Pesticide Residue in Korean Ginseng Seedlings Tested to Exceed Legal Limit

Date:05-11-2011

Pesticide residue on one-year-old ginseng seedlings, which are widely consumed during the spring, have been detected, in some cases, at 17 times the legal limit.

The city of Seoul said on Monday that 32 percent of the seedlings had residue that was at least four times higher than the set limit.

The city retrieved the ginseng stocks in question from traditional markets and called on ginseng producers not to distribute any more seeds to ensure the safety of consumers.

Ginseng seedlings are sterilized before being sold. and due to this they often have leftover chemicals on them.