The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has released its 2023 Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program Report, indicating that about 97% of fruits and vegetables sold in the state had either no detectable pesticide residues or levels below U.S. federal health-protective limits.
The findings are based on 3,544 produce samples collected from over 500 retail, wholesale, and distribution locations statewide. All samples were unwashed and unpeeled before being tested for up to 500 pesticides and related compounds. Residue detections above the health-protective tolerances set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are classified as illegal.
According to the report, 39% of the samples contained no detectable pesticide residues, while 58% had residues within U.S. EPA tolerances. Only 3% exceeded the legal limits. Of the 1,059 produce samples labeled as "grown in California," fewer than 1% were found to have illegal residue levels.
Imported produce accounted for the majority of violations. Of the 96 samples with illegal residues, 83% came from outside the United States. Among the 379 organic samples tested, 2% had residues above legal limits.
DPR Director Karen Morrison stated, "California works diligently to protect the public by keeping food with illegal pesticide residues out of the marketplace. Our residue testing program demonstrates the safety of our fruits and vegetables in California. We see consistently low levels of illegal pesticide residues on produce."
The report shows that U.S.-grown produce continues to have lower percentages of illegal residues compared to imported produce. Produce from Mexico recorded 6% violations out of 1,132 samples. The highest rate of violations was found in Ecuador (23% of 13 samples), followed by Guatemala (10% of 21 samples) and China (9% of 11 samples).
In 2023, DPR issued 103 quarantine notices for over 154,000 pounds (about 69,853 kg) of produce found with illegal pesticide residues. Nine cases involving California-grown produce were referred to County Agricultural Commissioners in Fresno, Imperial, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, and Ventura counties for further investigation.
Specific produce items with high violation rates included yard-long beans (4 of 4 samples, 100%), cactus pear (3 of 5 samples, 60%), dragon fruit (3 of 4 samples, 75%), guava (3 of 7 samples, 43%), chayote (2 of 14 samples, 14%), cilantro (2 of 14 samples, 14%), and pineapple (4 of 32 samples, 13%).
For more information:
Craig Cassidy
State of California (Department of Pesticide Regulation)
Tel: +1 916 445 5815
Email: [email protected]
www.cdpr.ca.gov