The volume of fruit and vegetables in Belgian shops contaminated with pesticides has almost doubled in four years, said VRT news on Wednesday.

The maximum residual limit was found to have been exceeded in more than 7 percent of the samples taken in 2005, compared with just over 4 percent in 2001.

The Federal Food Safety Agency tested around 500 pieces of fruit and at least 800 vegetable samples last year.

Among vegetables, the greatest level of pesticide was most commonly found in leafy greens and fresh herbs.

Summer fruits and fruits of the forest were shown to be the most vulnerable to high levels of undesirable chemicals.

Domestic crops score much better than imported fruit and vegetables, containing far fewer chemical pesticides.

The Federal Food Safety Agency stresses that, despite what may seem a worrying trend, there is no immediate danger to public health.

Source: Xinhua