Pesticide residue sampling
Pesticide residue sampling
New data shows an over 99% compliance rate among farmers who use pesticides with the laws and regulations designed to keep the environment and people safe.
The Ag information Network's Patrick Cavanauh says the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its 2017 pesticide residue data results.
"Since California supplies 68 percent of all the fruits and vegetables consumed in the US, is safe from crop protection residues."
FDA employs a three-fold strategy to enforce the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) safety standards for pesticide residues.
The FDA tests a range of both imported and domestic commodities for approximately 700 pesticide residues. The agency also takes sampling surveys for specific commodities or selected pesticide chemical residues of special interest. And the FDA also monitors the levels of pesticide chemical residues in foods prepared for consumption.
Many health organizations remind consumers about the importance of increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables – only one in 10 of us eat the recommended 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables daily. Some producers say consumer fear of pesticides is one reason affordable fruits and vegetables go uneaten.
