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 pears.

Pears have been tested on nine occasions since the beginning of 2000.  A further survey occurred at the end of 2005, and the next surveys will be conducted in the second and 4th quarters of 2006.

The total number of samples that have been tested is 842 which includes 15 organic samples (Each sample is at least 10 pears weighing at least 1 kg).

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

1. Carbendazim (23%)
2. Chlormequat (18%)
3. Dithiocarbamates (17%)
4. Tolylfluanid (17%)
5. Captan (15%)

*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 34 different pesticides found at least once over the 9 surveys

How frequently do residues occur on pears?
70% (588) of all samples contained measurable residues, none of which were organic.

40% (340) of samples had more than one pesticide residue. The highest number of pesticides found in one sample was eight.  The average number of pesticides found in non-organic samples was 1.4.  Taking into account only those samples that do contain residues, the average number of pesticides found was 2.0

How often are residues greater than legal limits?
Two samples had a residue that was above the legal limit.

Residues greater than the legal limit reported in pears between 2000 and June 2005

Report	Country of origin	Pesticide	Residue found, mg/kg	Legal limit (MRL), mg/kg
2002Q4	Portugal	dicofol	0.2	0.02
2003Q4	Italy	dicofol	0.07	0.02