Organic produce has pesticide residues

Not all organic fruits and vegetables are pesticide free when marketed, it was pointed out by a recent CBCnews (Canadian) report citing Canada’s pesticide residue testing and also confirmed by a U.S. state’s testing of organic produce.

The news service reported Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) records show “23.6 percent of 178 organic apples tested in 2009 and 2010 contained pesticide residue.”

The only statement from the CFIA indicated that organic produce and conventionally grown produce both can have residue with the organic producing having lower pesticide levels. It was not included in the information that both residue levels were under allowable limits for fruits and vegetables to be sold to the public.

The only specifics noted by the CBC news were U.S. Department of Agriculture data, not Canadian, showing 0.03 parts per million of the fungicide thiabendazole on organic apples and 0.04 parts per million of the fungicide on conventional apples in 2009.

The report quoted Walter Krol, Ph.D., in charge of testing produce for the state of Connecticut in the Consumer Affairs Department saying the state has found pesticide residue on organic produce.

Krol attributed those pesticide residues on contamination during post-harvest processing, spray drift or growing crops in soil containing the contaminants. Of course, a Canada Organic Trade Association official also blamed pesticide contamination after harvest, largely during packing and processing as the fault for residue.

From other reports than that of CBC news, natural pesticide elements, bacteria, etc. have been blamed for organic residue because produce cannot be grown inside a protective bubble in sterile soil.

It was obvious in the way Krol was quoted that he is one of those demanding zero tolerance, no matter how infinitely precise measurement equipment can be built. Parts per billion would be unacceptable to those wanting zero tolerance. "Pesticides are ending up in produce somehow and it's not supposed to happen so there are flaws in the integrity," Krol was quoted as saying.

A rule has been proposed by the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) that would require organic certifiers to test produce from five per cent of the farms it certifies prior to produce being marketed. "Residue testing plays an important role in organic certification by providing a means for monitoring compliance with the NOP and by discouraging the mislabeling of agricultural products," CBCnews reported.