The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its latest Pesticide Data Program (PDP) report, revealing that 99 percent of the samples tested had pesticide residues well below the tolerances established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with 15 percent having no detectable pesticide residue.
The report is based on data from 2015.
The PDP tested a total of 10,187 samples—9,872 samples of fresh and processed fruit and vegetables and 315 samples of peanut butter. Residues exceeding the established tolerance were detected in 0.53 percent (54 of 10,187) of the samples, and 3.9 percent (394 of 10,187) of the samples had residues with no established tolerance for the specific commodity tested. Commodities tested included apples, cherries, cucumbers, grapefruit, grapes, green beans, lettuce, nectarines, oranges, peaches, pears, potatoes, spinach, strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes and watermelon.
Based on the PDP data and on EPA’s assessment, the small amount of pesticides found in a few of the samples present no health risk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has concluded that pesticide residues do not pose risk to consumers’ health.
Published annually, the PDP provides regulators, scientists, farmers, processors, manufacturers and consumers with important insights into the actual levels of pesticide residues found on widely consumed foods. EPA uses PDP data to conduct dietary risk assessments and to ensure that any pesticide residues in foods remain at safe levels.
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For more information, please contact Matt McInerney or (949) 885-2263.
