SGS Informs on USDA 2013 Food Pesticide Program

Fairfield, NJ, February 17, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Over 99 per cent of the samples tested had residues that were below United States Environmental Product Agency (US EPA) tolerances. The US AMS and US EPA work together to determine what is needed to be sampled and tested.

Food Samples with Pesticide Residues Exceeding and/or Lack of Tolerances

Product categories tested were Fresh and Processed Commodities, Butter, Baby Food, Infant Formula, Salmon and Drinking water.

The percentage of samples tested exceeding the US EPA tolerances was 0.23% (23 of 9,990 samples tested). Of these 23 samples, 17 were imported and 6 were domestic commodities. The items were broccoli (1), celery (1), green beans (4), nectarines (11), plums (1), fresh raspberries (1) and summer squash (4). The nectarine samples all exceeded the 2013 US EPA tolerance of 1ppm for the pesticide residue tebuconazole.

Three per cent (301 out of 9,990) of the samples tested had residues which did not have an US EPA tolerance. Of these, 151 were domestic, 148 were imported and 2 were of unknown origin. The items were fresh fruit/vegetables (286), processed fruit/vegetables - baby food apple sauce, grape juice and frozen raspberries (13) and butter (2).

Pesticide Residue Testing and Results

All pesticide results are provided to the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and the US EPA on a monthly basis, unless there is a food safety issue. When an issue is identified the test results are provided to the US FDA immediately. The US FDA is responsible for determining if the residue found is unlawful, as per the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, and for taking enforcement action if appropriate. The US FDA conducts its own tests, interprets the reported violations and determines if additional testing is needed.

Reference:

USDA (http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/pdp)

About SGS Food Safety Services

SGS is committed to keeping readers informed of regulatory news and developments. Leveraging a global network of laboratories and food experts, SGS provides a comprehensive range of food safety and quality solutions including pesticide residue testing (http://www.sgs.com/en/Agriculture-Food/Food/Primary-Production/Testing-and-Analytical-Services/Pesticide-Residue-Testing.aspx), audits, certifications, inspections and technical support. SGS continually invests in world class testing capabilities and state-of-the-art technology to help reduce risks, and improve food safety and quality.

For further information please contact the SGS experts.

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