The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released its latest findings on pesticide residues in food, indicating a low risk to consumer health. However, the report highlights the importance of monitoring imports from third countries due to their higher likelihood of exceeding recommended levels.
In 2022, EFSA analyzed samples from various food products and found that 96.3% complied with legally permitted maximum residue levels (MRLs). Of the remaining samples, 37.3% contained residues below or equal to allowed limits, while 59% had no quantifiable residues.
While the overall exceedance rate in EU foodstuffs was 3.7%, imports from third countries showed a significantly higher rate at four times the EU average. This discrepancy is attributed to factors such as unapproved pesticide use, contamination, and soil uptake of residues.
The report recommends increased monitoring of pesticide residues in third-country imports, particularly those of unknown origin. It also calls for a wider analytical scope of organic samples to address the issue of sporadic non-authorized substance detections in organic products from outside the EU.
Despite the overall low health risks associated with pesticide residues, EFSA recommends continued monitoring of certain high-consumption food products, such as spinach, to ensure safety. The agency also encourages reporting countries to strengthen monitoring of pesticide residues in processed food commodities.
By adhering to these recommendations, consumers can have greater confidence in the safety of the food they consume, while ensuring that pesticide use is managed responsibly to minimize potential health risks.
