Food and Drug Administration Pesticide Residue Monitoring of Foods: 1978-1982

Pesticide residues in foods are reported for the 4-year period 1982-1986 [fiscal years (FY) 83-86]. Results were summarized from the 2 complementary approaches that make up the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) pesticide residue monitoring program. Under regulatory monitoring, which focuses on residues in raw agricultural commodities, a total of 49,055 samples (27,700 domestic and 21,355 import) that included fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and grain products, milk and dairy products, seafoods, and a variety of processed foods were analyzed. No residues were found in 60 and 48% of the domestic and import samples, respectively, compared with 55 and 44% in FY78-82. About 3% of the domestic and 5% of the import samples were violative. In FY78-82, about 3 and 7% were violative, respectively. The other FDA monitoring approach, the Total Diet Study, was revised in April 1982 to expand coverage of age/sex groups, use updated diets, and provide for analysis of individual foods. Results from monitoring under this modified approach and from regulatory monitoring continued to demonstrate that pesticide residues in the U.S. food supply were well below regulatory limits, and dietary intakes were many times lower than the Acceptable Daily Intakes established by international agencies.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration uses 3 approaches to monitor pesticide residues in foods: regulatory monitoring, incidence/level monitoring, and the Total Diet Study. The results of monitoring infant foods and adult foods that may be eaten by infants/children under these 3 approaches are presented. Under regulatory monitoring, which is performed to enforce tolerances set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), during fiscal years 1985-1991, over 10,000 such domestic and imported food samples were collected and analyzed, and under the Total Diet Study, in which pesticide residue intakes are estimated in foods prepared for consumption, the food items in 27 market baskets were analyzed. Under incidence/level monitoring, which is complementary to regulatory monitoring, over 4000 analyses were performed on infant foods and adult foods eaten by children. Fewer than 50 of the 10,000 regulatory samples had violative residues; nearly all of those were residues for which there was no tolerance for the particular commodity/pesticide combination. Under incidence/level monitoring and the Total Diet Study, the levels of pesticide residues found in infant foods and adult foods eaten by children were well below tolerances set by EPA.

Fate of Pesticide Residues on Raw Agricultural Crops after Postharvest Storage and Food Processing to Edible Portions

The present report is based on data from the 2010 EFSA Report on pesticide residues in food, the Norwegian monitoring programmes 2007-2012 and data from peer reviewed literature and governmental agencies. It is a challenge to perform quantitative estimates and comparative studies of residue levels due to large variation in the measured levels, and the large number of different pesticides present in the samples. Thus, the focus is on the frequency of observed contaminations in relation to regulatory limits and to present examples to illustrate the variation in residue values and number of detected substances. 
 Pesticide residues in conventional and organic products:
 Of the 12,168 samples (plant- and animal products) in the 2010 EU-coordinated programme, 1.6% exceeded the respective maximum residue level (MRL) values, and 47.7% had measurable residues above the limit of quantification (LOQ), but below or at the MRL. Of the 1168 samples analysed in Norway in 2012 (from both imported and domestic products), 1.9% exceeded MRL and 53% contained measurable pesticide residues. Direct comparison of these values is however not possible, since they contain different types of food samples, and are analysed for a different number of pesticides.
 When organic and conventional samples from fruit, vegetables and other plant products in the 2010 EU-coordinated programme were compared, 4.2% of the conventional and 1.0% of the organic samples exceeded the MRL values, while 43.2% of the conventional and 10.8% of the organic samples had measurable residues below or at the MRL value. Most of the pesticide residues detected in organic samples are not permitted for use in organic farming. 
 Of the 624 organic samples analysed in Norway 2007 - 2012, 0.2% (one sample) had residues exceeding MRL, while measurable residues were detected in 1.8% of the samples (11 samples).
 Conventional products were often found to contain different pesticides while most organic samples were found to contain few or only one type of pesticide. 
 Lack of data on pesticide residue levels of organic samples in the EU-coordinated programme, and few Norwegian samples do not allow for a quantitative comparison of pesticide residue levels in organic and conventional samples. Comparative estimation of pesticide residues faces a number of challenges and uncertainties. However, it seems unquestionable based on available data that organic plant products contain fewer and substantially lower amounts of pesticide residues than conventional products.
 Health risk associated with pesticide residues:
 The general level of pesticide residues in both conventional and organic food is low, and well below what is likely to result in adverse health effects. This conclusion is based on the comparison of estimated dietary exposure with toxicological reference values i.e. acceptable daily intake (ADI) for chronic effects, and acute reference dose (ARfD) for acute effects. The finding of pesticide residues that exceeds established regulatory limits in a minority of tested samples is not considered to represent a health risk.
 When dietary exposure that was estimated in six different food commodities in the 2010 EUcoordinated programme was compared with their relevant reference values, EFSA concluded that for 79 of 18243 conventionally grown fruit and vegetable samples, a short-term acute consumer health risk could not be excluded. The conclusion was based on the exceeding of ARfD. None of these 79 samples were organic. It is important to also consider that the exceeding of the acute reference value only occurred in 0.4% of the samples and that the scenario used for acute intake assessment is conservative, suggesting that the toxicological implications are limited. This is also reflected in the chronic exposure assessment, where none of the samples were found to exceed the toxicological reference value ADI. 
 Dietary exposure assessments on the basis of Norwegian samples of apples, tomatoes, carrots, strawberries and lettuce did not show an exceeding of any toxicological reference value. 
 Combined exposure and cumulative risk assessment of pesticide residues:
 No generally accepted methodology is at present established for cumulative risk assessment of combined exposure to pesticide residues. Available data suggest however that combined exposure is not likely to result in increased human health risk.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for enforcing tolerances established by the Environmental Protection Agency for pesticide residues in foods shipped in interstate commerce. FDA also determines dietary intakes of pesticides through the Total Diet Study, in which foods are collected at retail nationwide, prepared for consumption, and analyzed for residues. These different but complementary approaches have provided information over the years that demonstrates the safety of the food supply when compared with safety standards established by the federal government and international organizations. In Fiscal Year 1988, no residues were found in 61% of the more than 18,000 samples analyzed, and findings from the Total Diet Study corroborate results from previous years about the low levels of pesticide residues present in foods as consumed. Important recent initiatives deal with improving residue analytical capability, intelligence in pesticide usage, and sampling approaches. Since there is some public perception that pesticide residues in foods constitute a significant health risk, attention also needs to be directed toward this issue.

Resíduos de agrotóxicos em alimentos representam um grande risco para a saúde pública, devido aos efeitos nocivos que podem causar. Devido à utilização de agrotóxicos na produção de alimentos, bem como por meio de contaminação ambiental, os resíduos podem ser encontrados em alimentos frescos, cozidos e processados. A maioria dos alimentos é consumida após o processamento industrial ou doméstico, como a lavagem, remoção da casca, tratamentos térmicos ou esterilização. Vários estudos têm mostrado que estes processos podem, em alguns casos, reduzir os níveis de resíduos. A eficiência de remoção de resíduos depende do processamento envolvido e das propriedades físico-químicas dos agrotóxicos, tais como estabilidade e interação com o alimento. Esta revisão tem como objetivo destacar os resultados de estudos dos efeitos de diversos processos sobre os níveis de resíduos de agrotóxicos em diferentes alimentos, especialmente a eficiência de remoção dos compostos. Esta informação é útil para avaliar a possibilidade de minimizar o risco de exposição do consumidor aos resíduos de agrotóxicos nos alimentos, tornando-se uma importante ferramenta para a segurança alimentar. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pesticide residues in food pose a great risk to public health due to the harmful effects they can cause. Due to the use of pesticides in food production, as well as through environmental contamination, residues can be found in fresh, cooked and processed foodstuffs. Most food is consumed after industrial or household processing, such as washing, peeling, thermal treatments and sterilization. Several studies have shown that these procedures may, in some cases, reduce residue levels. The efficiency of residues removal depends on the processing involved and the physicochemical properties of pesticides, such as stability and interaction with food. This review aims to highlight the results of studies on the effects of various processes on the levels of pesticide residues in different food, especially the removal efficiency of the compounds. This information is useful to assess the possibility of minimizing the risk of consumer exposure to pesticide residues in foods, becoming an important tool for food safety.

8 - Pesticide Residue in Foods

Limits for Pesticide Residues in Infant Foods: A Safety-Based Proposal

EFSA JournalVolume 10, Issue 6 2763 Reasoned OpinionOpen Access Reasoned opinion on the review of the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for amitrole according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 European Food Safety Authority, European Food Safety AuthoritySearch for more papers by this author European Food Safety Authority, European Food Safety AuthoritySearch for more papers by this author First published: 12 June 2012 https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2763 Correspondence: pesticides.mrl@efsa.europa.eu Acknowledgement: EFSA wishes to thank the rapporteur Member State France for the preparatory work on this scientific output. Approval date: 9 June 2012 Published date: 12 June 2012 Question number: EFSA-Q-2008-488 On request from: EFSA AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat References EC (European Commission), 1996. Appendix G. Livestock Feeding Studies. 7031/VI/95 rev.4. Available online: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/resources/publications_en.htm EC (European Commission), 1997a. Appendix A. Metabolism and distribution in plants. 7028/IV/95-rev.3. Available online: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/resources/publications_en.htm EC (European Commission), 1997b. Appendix B. General recommendations for the design, preparation and realization of residue trials. Annex 2. Classification of (minor) crops not listed in the Appendix of Council Directive 90/642/EEC. 7029/VI/95-rev.6. Available online: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/resources/publications_en.htm EC (European Commission), 1997c. Appendix C. Testing of plant protection products in rotational crops. 7524/VI/95-rev.2. Available online: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/resources/publications_en.htm EC (European Commission), 1997d. Appendix E. Processing studies. 7035/VI/95-rev.5. Available online: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/resources/publications_en.htm EC (European Commission), 1997e. Appendix F. Metabolism and distribution in domestic animals. 7030/VI/95-rev.3. Available online: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/resources/publications_en.htm EC (European Commission), 1997f. Appendix H. Storage stability of residue samples. 7032/VI/95-rev.5. Available online: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/resources/publications_en.htm EC (European Commission), 1997g. Appendix I. Calculation of maximum residue level and safety intervals. 7039/VI/95. As amended by the document: classes to be used for the setting of EU pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs). SANCO 10634/2010. Available online: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/resources/publications_en.htm EC (European Commission), 2000. Residue analytical methods. For pre-registration data requirement for Annex II (part A, section 4) and Annex III (part A, section 5 of Directive 91/414. SANCO/3029/99-rev.4. Available online: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/resources/publications_en.htm EC (European Commission), 2001. Review report for the active substance amitrole. Finalised in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health at its meeting on 12 December 2000 in view of the inclusion of amitrole in Annex I of Council Directive 91/414/EEC. SANCO 6839/VI/97 Final, 22 March 2001. Available online: ec.europa.eu/sanco_pesticides/public/index.cfm?event=tctivesubstance.selection EC (European Commission), 2010a. Classes to be used for the setting of EU pesticide Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). SANCO 10634/2010 Rev. 0, finalized in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health at its meeting of 23–24 March 2010. Available online: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/resources/publications_en.htm EC (European Commission), 2010b. Residue analytical methods. For post-registration control. SANCO/825/00-rev.8-1. Available online: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/resources/publications_en.htm EC (European Commission), 2011. Appendix D. Guidelines on comparability, extrapolation, group tolerances and data requirements for setting MRLs. 7525/VI/95-rev.9. Available online: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/resources/publications_en.htm EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2007. Reasoned opinion on the potential chronic and acute risk to consumers' health arising from proposed temporary EU MRLs according to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on Maximum Residue Levels of Pesticides in Food and Feed of Plant and Animal Origin. 15 March 2007. EURL (European Union Reference Laboratories for Pesticide Residues), 2012. Data pool on method validation for pesticide residues. Status on 31 May 2012. Available online: www.crl-pesticides-datapool.eu FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations), 1974. amitrole. In: Pesticide residues in food – 1974. Report of the Joint Meeting of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and the Environment and the WHO Expert Group on Pesticide Residues. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations), 1993. Amitrole. In: Pesticide residues in food – 1993. Evaluations. Part I. Residues. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 117. Available online: www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/core-themes/theme/pests/pm/jmpr/jmpr-rep/en/ FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations), 1998. Amitrole. In: Pesticide residues in food – 1998. Evaluations. Part I. Residues. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 079. Available online: www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/core-themes/theme/pests/pm/jmpr/jmpr-rep/en/ FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations), 2009. Submission and evaluation of pesticide residues data for the estimation of Maximum Residue Levels in food and feed. Pesticide Residues. 2nd Ed. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 197, 264 pp. France, 1996. Draft assessment report on the active substance amitrole prepared by the rapporteur Member State France in the framework of Council Directive 91/414/EEC, June 1996. France, 2000. Addendum to the draft assessment report on the active substance amitrole prepared by the rapporteur Member State France in the framework of Council Directive 91/414/EEC, March 2000. Volume10, Issue6June 20122763 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Dietary risk assessment of organophosphate and carbamate pesticide residues in commonly eaten food crops.

Total Diet Studies on pesticide residues in foods carried out in Italy in the last two decades are briefly summarized and data are discussed. Health risk assessment is expressed by the ratio total intake/ADI (%ADI ingested) for each compound and by the sum of the percentages of ADI for each compound within the same class of pesticides. The total dietary intake of chlorinated pesticides, that was almost 100% of ADI in the years 1970-74, decreased down to 10% in the period 1978-84. This trend was confirmed for DDT in recent years, while data on Lindane and Heptachlor seem to be constant. As regards the organophosphorus pesticides the sum of the percentages of ADI ingested for each compound, extrapolated from recent data (1990-1991) is about 20% and can be regarded as reasonably acceptable because the study included practically all the mainly used compounds. Only few data are available for some pesticides like dithiocarbamates, especially EBDCs and their derivatives (e.g. ETU), other carbamates (e.g...

Cold plasma for mitigating agrochemical and pesticide residue in food and water: Similarities with ozone and ultraviolet technologies

This study investigated the presence of pesticide residues in table-ready foods in Tanzania. One-hundred-and-eighty nine samples of 11 widely used foods at table ready stage were analysed using US FDA multi-residue methods. Pesticide residues were detected in 29% of all samples analysed. The spread of contamination in individual foods was: spinach 72.7%, rice 50%, beef meat 42.1%, stiff porridge 8.6%, and beans 6.7%. After allocating Non-detects levels a half value of Method Detection Limit i.e., (MDL)/2, the mean concentrations of the pesticide residues in the foods were; In spinach: g-HCH 0.08μg/kg; DDT 2.89μg/kg; Chlorpyrifos 0.02μg/kg. In rice: g-HCH 0.08μg/kg; DDT 1.70μg/kg; and Chlorpyrifos 0.02μg/kg. In beef meat: g-HCH 0.14μg/kg; DDT 0.76μg/kg. In stiff porridge: g-HCH 0.06μg/kg; and DDT 0.30μg/kg. In beans: g-HCH 0.04μg/kg; and DDT 0.13μg/kg. In fish variety: g-HCH 0.05μg/kg. Converted into consumer Average Daily Doses, these concentrations were within ADI/PTDI levels set by CODEX and, therefore, posed no significant health risk. However, the presence of pp-DDT in many samples indicates a possible recent contamination of food raw materials with DDT. A more effective pesticides control system should be put in place before lifting the ban on DDT for restricted uses in vector control programs in Tanzania.

International food trade raises concerns regarding the safety of imported plant-based products, particularly with respect to pesticide residues that may enter the European market through imports from regions with differing regulatory frameworks. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, diversity, and regulatory compliance of pesticide residues in plant-derived foods from Mercosur countries imported to the EU. Seventy-five plant materials representing 22 commodity categories were analysed using accredited multi-residue methods based on GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS. Contamination patterns varied substantially among commodities: dried plums showed the most complex residue spectrum (15 active substances), followed by blueberries and grapes (14 each). In contrast, avocado, onion, and passion fruit exhibited minimal contamination, and Brazil nuts, peanuts, and maize were completely residue-free. In total, 47 active substances were identified, including fungicides (n = 25), insecticides (n = 14), herbicides (n = 5), a plant growth regulator (n = 1), and two fumigants/inorganic compounds. Fungicides—particularly strobilurins (azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrobin)—were the most frequently detected. Neonicotinoid and pyrethroid insecticides predominated in fruits, whereas herbicides such as glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA were confined to legume samples. Most residues complied with European Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005; however, exceedances were identified in beans (fosetyl, glufosinate, haloxyfop), chickpeas (glyphosate), and dried plums (chlorothalonil). Commodity-specific residue profiles reflected differences in pest management strategies, with fungicide–insecticide combinations prevailing in fruits, herbicides in legumes, and mixed residues in dried commodities. These findings highlight both the effectiveness of current agricultural practices in reducing pesticide residues in some Mercosur foods and the need for strengthened monitoring of legume and dried fruit commodities to ensure compliance with EU food safety standards.

EFSA JournalVolume 7, Issue 9 1310 Reasoned OpinionOpen Access Modification of the residue definition of glyphosate in genetically modified maize grain and soybeans, and in products of animal origin European Food Safety Authority, European Food Safety AuthoritySearch for more papers by this author European Food Safety Authority, European Food Safety AuthoritySearch for more papers by this author First published: 10 September 2009 https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1310Citations: 10 Correspondence: praper.mrl@efsa.europa.eu Approval date: 9 September 2009 Published date: 10 September 2009 Question number: EFSA-Q-2009-00372 On request from: European Commission AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat References Germany, 1998. Draft Assessment Report on glyphosate prepared by Germany under Directive 91/414/EEC. Germany, 2000. Complete list of end points (available on CIRCA in “Archive individual substances/glyphosate”) European Commission, 2002. Review report for the active substance glyphosate, Doc. 6511/VI/99-final, 21 January 2002. L.A. Castle, D.L. Siehl, R. Gorton, P.A. Patten, Y.H. Chen, S. Bertain, H.-J. Cho, N. Duck, J. Wong, D. Liu, M.W. Lassner, 2004. Discovery and directed evolution of a glyphosate tolerance gene. Science 304. WHO/FAO, 2004. Pesticide residues in food – 2004. Report of the Joint Meeting of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and the Environment and the WHO Expert Group on Pesticide Residues. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 178, 2004. WHO/FAO, 2005. Pesticide residues in food – 2005. Report of the Joint Meeting of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and the Environment and the WHO Expert Group on Pesticide Residues. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 183, 2005. Citing Literature Volume7, Issue9September 20091310 ReferencesRelatedInformation