This Tuesday, September 19, the City of Strasbourg took stock of the “green ordinances” launched in 2022. This system designed to minimize the exposure of pregnant women to endocrine disruptors, in particular by offering them an organic basket per week, has worked so well successful that it will be extended.
“At first, when I was told about it, I thought it was just fruits and vegetables, but now I realize that it allowed me to change my lifestyle a little.“. Othnielle Mabiala did not expect such an impact on her daily life. She is one of the 800 pregnant women who benefited from the green prescription system launched by the City of Strasbourg in 2022. Their doctor prescribed them a prescription thanks to which They received a basket of organic vegetables every week and were able to participate in workshops to raise awareness of the risks of endocrine disruptors.
“The time of pregnancy is critical, because it is a time when women and their fetuses are particularly exposed, their neurological and hormonal systems are vulnerable.“, explains the mayor of Strasbourg Jeanne Barseghian, who recalls that the Alsatian capital is the first to experiment with this system in France. The results, presented this Tuesday at the Saint-André farm in Friedolsheim where the organic baskets are made, is “very positive” according to the councilor. “Nearly 10,000 organic baskets were distributed, and this led to a change in lifestyles.”
Because women don’t just pick up their organic basket every week. Othnielle Mabiala, for example, recounts having attended an awareness workshop on the issue of endocrine disruptors. “I’m a nurse, but I didn’t know that they were everywhere, nail polish, plastic objects…At the time, I told myself that I had to change everything in my house, I panicked, but they explained to us that even a 50% reduction was a very good thing. I started buying glass baby bottles, for example.”
The City plans to extend the experiment in 2024, this time by adapting the measure to the income of the beneficiaries. The wealthiest families will only be able to receive the organic basket for two months, while families with the least income will be able to claim it for seven months. “This is a measure that promotes social justice, organic farming and good eating habits.“, welcomes the mayor.
Green ordinances could become widespread beyond Strasbourg’s borders. The deputy for Bas-Rhin Sandra Regol (EELV) tabled a bill on September 12. “The government majority must follow us, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t, it’s a system that only has positive aspects in my eyes, confides Sandra Regol. Yes, it costs money, but it is an investment, it saves money in the long term.“The cost of the system amounts to 650,000 euros across Strasbourg.
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