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Crop tests produce mixed results

28 July 2009

A survey of residues on New Zealand-grown celery and spinach has produced mixed results with six out of 48 samples showing residues above the permitted level. The residue levels did not pose a risk to human health.

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) today released the first set of results for the Food Residue Surveillance Programme (FRSP), an annual study that looks at chemical residues found in fresh, unwashed produce. The survey targets crops prone to problems with compliance.

“For the first part of this survey, NZFSA looked for traces of well over 200 agricultural compounds in 24 samples of each crop and we are generally pleased with the results,” says NZFSA’s principal advisor for chemicals Paul Dansted.

“Except for one sample, the celery was fine in this first batch of results, which is good because growers have few agricultural compound options when growing celery,” Dr Dansted said. The insecticide acephate has a maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.1mg/kg but was found in one celery sample at 0.4 mg/kg.

“Spinach can also cause problems for growers and in this part of the survey, five spinach samples showed residues over the permitted level. These were traced back to two growers.”

The insecticide methamidiphos has an MRL of 0.5mg/kg but was found in two spinach samples at 0.89 and 2.6 mg/kg. The insecticide cyhalothrin has an MRL of 0.1mg/kg but was found in three spinach samples at 0.12, 0.13 and 0.2 mg/kg.

Dr Dansted said a dietary intake assessment of the non-compliant results showed the residue levels did not pose a food safety or health concern. However, the MRL breaches indicated a few growers were not taking the care NZFSA expects.

“Following label directions and withholding periods is the best way to ensure the safe, effective use of agricultural compounds,” Dr Dansted said.

“Spinach and celery are what we call ‘minor crops’, which means they aren’t widely grown in New Zealand. This, in turn, means there is a smaller range of agricultural compounds available to growers for use on their crops compared with other crops.

“We have been working with the growers responsible to investigate what went wrong and to see how they can improve their practices, particularly when it comes to use of products that don’t provide explicit advice for specific crops.

“We have made it very clear to the growers concerned that they must meet the residue standards to ensure compliance with good agricultural practice so this doesn’t happen again.”

Further results from the FRSP and NZFSA’s other monitoring programmes will be released as they come to hand.

For Food Residue Surveillance Programme (FRSP) results see

Food Residues Surveillance Programme

For answers to common questions about agricultural compound residues in food see

Agricultural compound residues in food

Ends

For comment: Dr Paul Dansted, Principal Advisor (Chemicals), 029 894 2536

For information: Mandy Smith, Advisor (Media Communications), 029 894 2528