The Poison and the Dose
The debate about threshold values for chemical residues in water and food is often shaped by misunderstandings and emotions. Few topics show as clearly how far perception and science can drift apart. But what do limit values really mean? In autumn 2025, the Agricultural Policy Podcast and swiss-food.ch will explore our relationship with limits and risk in a five-part series. The highlight will be a live podcast recording on November 5 at Bogen F in Zurich.
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Limit values are intended to protect society from excessive exposure to potentially harmful substances. Thanks to advances in analytics, even the tiniest traces can now be detected. This often leads to differing interpretations of measurement results and their significance. The line between honest education, alarmism, and trivialization is a fine one.
It’s the dose that makes the poison – for both natural and synthetic substances. Residues alone do not indicate danger. At the same time, «natural» substances enjoy enormous trust, even when they can be toxic – mushroom toxins are a prime example.
How difficult it is to strike a balance between safety-mindedness and practical reason is aptly summed up by Roman Mazzotta, Country Head of Syngenta Switzerland: «One of the most dangerous things you can do is drive a car. There are distance regulations: on the motorway, the required distance to the next car is 60 metres. That’s the ‘limit value’. For chemical substances that are neither DNA-damaging nor carcinogenic, a hundredfold safety margin is added to that limit value. Translated to road traffic, that would mean keeping a distance of six kilometres from the next car.»
In five engaging episodes, experts from toxicology, industry, government, and agriculture discuss what safety really means and the role that limit values play.
The podcast series
The following recordings are already confirmed:
October 11 – Dr. Angela Bearth
The Agricultural Policy Podcast with Dr. Angela Bearth on perceived dangers and real risks. Angela Bearth holds a PhD in Social and Health Psychology from the University of Zurich and works as a senior social scientist at the Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (University of Basel).
October 18 – Dr. Lothar Aicher
With Dr. Lothar Aicher on residues in our everyday lives. A chemist and toxicologist at SCAHT since 2010.
October 25 – Dr. Michael Beer
With Dr. Michael Beer on official notifications and warnings. Deputy Director of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO)
The grand finale
November 5 – Live Podcast at Bogen F, Zurich from 6:00 p.m.
The Poison and the Dose – Big Panic Over Small Numbers
The grand finale will be a live event where experts, consumer advocates, and industry representatives debate the meaning of safety and regulation. The event will be moderated by Andreas Wyss, host of the Agricultural Policy Podcast.
The Agrarpolitik podcast is available on all major platforms. Click here to see the overview. Here you can listen to the latest episodes.
Kindly note:
We, a non-native editorial team value clear and faultless communication. At times we have to prioritize speed over perfection, utilizing tools, that are still learning.
We are deepL sorry for any observed stylistic or spelling errors.
Related articles
Facts about drinking water and limit values
'Pure' water is either a tasteless distillate or a selling point. As natural products, neither tap water nor branded water is 'pure'. However, both can be drunk without hesitation.
"Swiss water is in a bad way."
That's not actually true. Our surface waters, groundwater and drinking water are in very good condition. Our water quality tops international rankings. There cannot be any mention of poor Swiss water quality.
Chlorothalonil – communication with cost consequences
Once upon a time there was a canton in Seldwyla. In order to better regulate access traffic to a larger town, the canton decided to install so-called "gatekeeper systems" on the access roads, i.e. traffic lights that stop private traffic and thus access to the town by means of red lights when traffic in the town itself comes to a standstill.
‘No genetic engineering’ is simply not an option!
For years, politicians and environmental organisations have been stirring up unnecessary fears about a technology that has been helping to conserve resources and protect the environment for decades, while improving the quality and tolerability of food and cosmetics. It is time to put an end to this consumer deception.
«The protection of cultures is no longer guaranteed»
Swiss agriculture is in a tight spot when it comes to crop protection. At the Swiss-Food Talk on July 1, 2025, three producer representatives described how bans, the lack of alternatives, and lengthy approval procedures are putting pressure on their crops.
Chasing Misinformation Feels Like Herding Cats
Science fiction has a way of masquerading as science fact — until someone like me comes with a bucket of cold, hard evidence. But let’s be real: debunking nonsense takes exponentially more effort than producing it. Jonathan Swift knew it in 1710, and here I am, centuries later, still speaking my truth before the next viral misinformation dumpster fire.
Climate protection must not jeopardise food security
Agriculture is increasingly under pressure to become climate-neutral. But how can this be achieved without jeopardising food security? In the agricultural policy podcast, Hannah von Ballmoos-Hofer, head of the energy division at the Swiss Farmers' Union, emphasises that climate protection is important, but must not come at the expense of food security.