Wines Tainted With Pesticides

A large majority of European wines are tainted with pesticides and other toxic substances, a study by a consortium of environmental groups has found. Thirty-four of 40 bottles sampled, including grands crus from some of Bordeaux's most prestigious vineyards, contained hazardous pesticides, the Telegraph reports. But of the six organic bottles tested, five were clean.

In recent years, winegrowers have relied increasingly on synthetic chemicals to ward off pests, but the compounds found in the study can cause cancer, disrupt hormone production, or produce genetic mutations in humans. Although none of the bottles tested contained illegally high levels of any one pesticide, scientists are concerned about the "cocktail effect" of several substances intermingling in one bottle. (More wine stories.)