The 31st Annual Report on pesticide residues issued by the USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service demonstrated a high level of wholesomeness in fresh and processed fruits and vegetables with respect to pesticides.
The Pesticide Data Program tested 10,127 samples in 2021. Ninety-Four percent comprised fresh and processed fruit and vegetables and the remainder consisted of corn and butter. Two-thirds of the samples were of domestic origin and one-third were imported.
Only 0.5 percent of the tested samples yielded levels exceeding FDA tolerance values. Of these 54 samples, 29 were domestic and 24 were imported. For residues without an established tolerance level, 3.7 percent demonstrated the presence of a specific pesticide. The range of pesticides assayed, and the number of samples resulted in close to 2.5 million individual assays with summaries accessible on www.ams.usda.gov/pdp.
The takeaway from the comprehensive report is that 24 percent of the samples had no detectable residue and 99 percent in which a residue was detected, the value was below EPA tolerances.
Web postings by activist organizations invariably mischaracterize residue levels creating concern and anxiety among consumers. This is mischievous and damaging to the image of U.S. produce and foods and creates unnecessary anxiety among consumers. Analytical technology can detect levels of compounds down to the nanogram and picogram levels that are biologically inconsequential. Water is toxic at a high level of intake but this does not imply that we should stop drinking water.