Calif: few illegal pesticide residues in produce

Date:09-02-2011

California regulators say that new monitoring data show that most pesticide residue on tested produce falls within allowable limits.

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation released the 2010 data—which spans more than 170 domestic and imported produce—on Monday. The data show that a third of 3,020 samples tested contained pesticide residues, a larger percentage than in the two previous years.

But regulators say these residues were within allowable levels.

Only about 2.4 percent of samples tested had illegal residue levels. Regulators said these did not pose significant acute health risks.

Regulators also said they are enhancing illegal pesticide monitoring with a new screening technology known as liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. It can detect residues difficult to find with older screening techniques.