Over 99% of the food samples tested by USDA had pesticide residues below benchmark levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency. That’s according to USDA’s 32nd annual Pesticide Data Program annual summary, which reflects data from 2022. The tests were conducted on 10,665 samples from 23 commodities including fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, dairy, nuts, and grains. According to a USDA release, “The PDP is a national pesticide residue monitoring program that tests a wide variety of domestic and imported foods, with a strong focus on foods that are consumed by infants and children. It is an important part of the government's efforts to ensure that the food supply is safe and that consumers can have confidence in the foods they eat.” Out of all the samples tested, USDA said 27.6% had no detectable residue. Residues exceeding the tolerance were detected in 0.53 percent (56 samples) and 19 of those were domestic while 37 were from imported foods. The full 2022 data and summary can be found on the Pesticide Data Program page.
For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com
