UK pesticide levels exceed legal limits in 1.6% of food

19 September 2000 18:03  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--A UK study into pesticide residues in food in 1999 has found that 1.6% of food samples contained levels which were higher than legally permitted, compared with 1.3% in 1998.

About 71% of food samples contained no residues, according to the Working Party on Pesticide Residues annual report, published Tuesday. The study analysed about 2500 samples of both imported and home produced food, collected from retailers and tested for a wide range of pesticides.

Residues were found in 43% of the fruit and vegetable samples, while residues above the legal limit were found in 3% of samples.

According to the Working Party, the majority of residues detected were of no health concern, although two samples indicated a possible concern. The first was a pear sample which contained chlormequat at a level of 16 mg/kg and the second was a sweet pepper sample which contained methamidophos at a level of 0.8 mg/kg.

The full report is available at: http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/

By: Anna Jagger
+1 713 525 2653

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