Safe Pesticide Levels

USDA has confirmed again in its annual report that American consumers can focus on the nutritional benefits of conventional and organic produce without concern for pesticide residues. Ray McAllister, Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs for CropLife America says this continues a long tradition.

McALLISTER: It's not news because it's the same story we heard last year and the year before which is a good thing that from the perspective of pesticide residues the food supply is very safe.

The study shows over 99 percent of fresh and processed food available to consumers tested below allowable pesticide residue levels. But yet there are people who continue to talk about high pesticide levels.

McALLISTER: Many people have opposition to the use of pesticides on unfounded grounds and will point to the detection of any amount as a cause for concern. That's why we have an elaborate and well-founded regulatory program that looks carefully at the potential hazards of the residues.

Interestingly only .36 percent of the products sampled through the Pesticide Data Program had residues above the EPA established tolerances.

McALLISTER: For some 26 years now the Pesticide Data Program has been sampling residues and analyzing upwards of 10-thousand samples a year to look on a systematic statistically valid basis what occurs in the various foods that go through their program.

That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.