The eco guide to greener veg

More than 300 pesticides are permitted in conventional agriculture, and some may combine in a harmful cocktail effect. So for your sake and the planet's, go organic

Leeks, potatoes and onions are not vegetables you'd usually associate with a soup that could harm you. However, recent UK government data on pesticides and mainstream crops shows that they could create a very concerning cocktail effect. The number of different active pesticide ingredients used on these crops has increased between six and 18 times since the 1960s. Toxicologists refer to a cocktail effect because while safety certificates are issued to individual pesticides, their cumulative effect is not tested.

Toxicologists refer to a cocktail effect because pesticides' cumulative effect is not tested