We have looked at all the governments published residue results between Jan 2000 and June 2005, and summarised what they tell us about the pesticide residues in cucumber.

Cucumbers have been tested on seven occasions since the beginning of 2000. A further test will have been carried out at the end of 2005.

The total number of samples that have been tested is 251, which includes 12 organic samples (Each sample is at least 5 cucumbers weighing at least 2 kg).

Which pesticides turn up on cucumbers?
The five most commonly reported pesticides (with approximate percentages* of non-organic survey samples reported to contain them):

1	Dithiocarbamates	12%
2	Propamocarb	8%
3	Procymidone	6%
4	Carbendazim	6%
5	Oxadixyl	4%

*Not all the individual pesticides were tested for in all the samples, and so the percentages may underestimate their occurrence.

Find out more about the health and environmental effects of these pesticides

There were 15 different pesticides found at least once over the 7 surveys

How frequently do residues occur on cucumbers?
29% (74) of all samples contained measurable residues, including 1 organic sample.

10% (26) of samples had more than one pesticide residue. The highest number of pesticides found in one sample was four.  The average number of pesticides found in non-organic samples was 0.44.  Taking into account only those samples that do contain residues, the average number of pesticides found was 1.4

How often are residues greater than legal limits?
No samples had a residue that was above the legal limit.