Countryfile transported viewers to England’s largest remaining rainforest at Borrowdale Oakwoods on Sunday night as Sean Fletcher took the reins.
While the scenic views were enough to pique the interest of viewers, it was Tom Heap who got fans talking the most – but not for all the right reasons.
Heap was on hand to investigate the potentially toxic chemicals that may end up in everyday food items – often without the public’s knowledge.
Heap sat down for a picnic where he began to explain that “so-called forever chemicals” can be found in a plethora of foods, adding: “They can last for centuries in the environment and you can find them in every corner of our lives from non-stick pans to waterproof clothing and cosmetics.”
As the segment continued, Heap discovered that pesticides could be the main source of these chemicals, speaking with experts in the field about the likes of PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PDHS emerging in food.
Heap heard from Nick Mole from Pesticide Action Network UK about the issue, who explained: “The issues of PFAS in agriculture as pesticides is a fairly new one.
BBC Countryfile: Tom Heap’s feature didn’t go down well with viewers
BBC
“We only became aware of it last year, when our colleagues in Europe discovered there were 31 active substances approved for use there that can be classified as PFAS chemicals.
“So when a pesticide or a PFAS pesticide has been used, it can often stay on the plant and end up on people’s plates as a pesticide residue.”
Mole then referred to a study carried out by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) that found 10 out of 25 foods involved contained evidence of “forever chemicals”.
DEFRA told Countryfile that the levels of “forever chemicals” found in the 2022 study that Mole referred to were “considered safe to eat”.
BBC Countryfile: Tom Heap delved into a handful of foods that may have contained the chemicals
BBC
Mole, however, had concerns over the uncertainty of what exactly each pesticide actually contains and called for farmers to be given more clarity about what is going into pesticide products.
Heap then visited Rees Keene, a farmer who wasn’t aware of the “forever chemical” content of his pesticides.
The Countryfile star also sent the lunch from his aforementioned picnic to a lab to see which foods contained the most chemicals, meaning strawberries, tomatoes, bread, cream and ham were tested for PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PDHS.
All five ingredients contained traces of the chemicals but the results and tone of Heap after discovering the verdict certainly divided some viewers who found the 12-minute-long feature unnecessary and claimed it was intended to create “hysteria”.
One fan fumed about the segment: “So a waste of 10 minutes for Tom to tell us that there are small amounts (traces) of forever chemicals #countryfile.”
“The hysteria around ‘forever chemicals’ needs to stop… #Countryfile,” a second hit out.
A third blasted the feature for potentially scare-mongering as they fumed: “@BBCCountryfile stop scaring people #PFAS. Nowhere near enough known about #ForeverChemicals.”
“Please stop saying ‘forever chemicals’. We don’t care and this isn’t newsround #countryfile,” a fourth raged before a fifth said: “How many people will care about pesticides on food and potential cancer if it means cheap food?
“Also, going back to old methods, how will that work now we have huge population growth and a build build build mentality? #countryfile.”
And sixth bluntly surmised: “Think we’ll just have to stop eating altogether to be safe #Countryfile.”
However, others defended the feature for raising awareness, including one who argued: “This film about #foreverchemicals is absolutely terrifying.
“No Wonder 1 in 2 of us now gets cancer. How long will it take till all these chemicals are banned for the health of us all #countryfile.” (sic)
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