The California Environmental
Protection Agency (CalEPA) has reported state-wide results for its
1994 residue monitoring of fresh fruit and vegetables. A total of
5,588 samples were taken from 161 commodities in the marketplace.
Residues were detected in about 32% samples. A further 1.5% (84
samples) contained illegal residues.
Staff from the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)
of CalEPA and the county agricultural commissioners investigate all
illegal residue detections. The affected produce is quarantined, and
shippers and packers are contacted to find out where the produce was
grown.
The DPR also report on the results of its priority
pesticide programme in which monitoring is concentrated on pesticides
of special interest, ie only crops known to have been treated with a
targeted pesticide are tested. There were 2,342 samples taken in the
programme in 1994. Although all of the samples were treated, most
(86%) contained no detectable resdiues.
1994 Residue in Fresh Produce, $9.00 California Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1020 N Street, Sacremento, 95814, US.
[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 31,March 1996, page 19]