“If you eat your grandmother’s potatoes, you are poisoning yourself,” a farmer
6 December 10:17
Ukrainians need to get rid of the illusion that “home-grown” potatoes from gardens are healthier and safer than those produced by professional farms. In fact, such potatoes often contain nitrates and residues of dangerous drugs. This was stated in an interview with the YouTube channel "Komersant Ukrainian" by Serhiy Rybalko, a member of the board of directors of the Ukrainian Association of Potato Producers.
Rybalko emphasizes that the belief that home-grown potatoes are “tastier and healthier” is false and dangerous.
“If you eat your grandmother’s potatoes from the garden, you are poisoning yourself. You are poisoning yourself with two things: nitrates and residues from the spraying that your grandmother uses to kill the Colorado potato beetle,” Rybalko says.
According to him, home gardens are not controlled by anyone, while professional producers undergo regular inspections, have certificates and are responsible for the safety of their products.
Rybalko also emphasizes that the idea that homemade milk, meat, or potatoes are healthier is a myth. He adds that the uncontrolled use of premixes and drugs in poultry and pig farming is particularly dangerous.
He also added that Ukrainians will gradually move away from the practice of growing potatoes for their own needs.
“We can’t imagine anyone in Germany or the United States growing potatoes at home in their gardens. And we are gradually moving away from this. Young people will no longer grow potatoes for their own needs. They know how to do math,” he summarized.
