Armenian Market Flooded With Fruit and Vegetables Rich in Chemicals: Expert

Experts of Consumers Association have examined the vegetables and fruit that grow in Armavir, Aragatsotn and Ararat marzes (province) and have come to a conclusion that all citizens, especially those living in the capital city of Yerevan, should be concerned about.

In a press conference today Levon Achemyan, the Director of Consumers Association said that the quantity of fertilizers and chemicals found in them exceeds the level allowed.

“All the green houses are having that problem; the situation is out of control. Very often the vegetables appear in the markets just a few days after chemicals are injected in them, while at least 3-7 days are necessary for the poison’s influence to fade away. The chemicals penetrate into the organism, infiltrate in the blood and in the course of time affect the liver, the kidneys and the heart,” said Achemyan.

Armenia is a member state of the World Trade Organization. It signed an agreement and assumed a liability to ensure the security of food in the country. But according to Achemyan Armenia does not meet its obligations, and there is no control over the situation.

Mileta Aristakesyan, another expert present at the press conference, said that also imported fruit and vegetables are sold in the market which are genetically modified species that are quite harmful for health.

Further she said that information must be pasted on those fruit and vegetables while passing the border, which would inform the consumers that they are genetically modified.

“There are no laboratories in Armenia so that that food stuff could be examined,” said Aristakesyan.