FDA Finds Most Foods Comply with Federal Pesticide Levels

Among the 6069 samples of domestic and imported foods for humans and animals examined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during fiscal year 2017, the agency determined that the “vast majority” were compliant with federal limits on pesticides, according to a new report issued by the FDA on Friday.

The agency’s annual Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program report states that 96.2% of domestic human foods met federal standards, as well as 89.6% of imported human food. For animal food, 98.8% of domestically-sourced samples were found to be compliant and 94.4% of imported animal foods met the requirements. 

“The latest set of results demonstrate once again that the vast majority of foods we test are well below the federal limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency, meaning that they meet EPA’s safety standards,” Susan Mayne, Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition said in a press release announcing the results. “We will continue to do this important monitoring work, taking action when appropriate, to help ensure our food supply remains among the safest in the world.”

FDA investigators also examined 550 samples of domestically produced milk, shell eggs, honey and game meat for pesticide levels during fiscal year 2017, finding that 77.3% of honey products and 87.5% of shell eggs had no residues. No levels of pesticides were found in milk and game meat samples. 

The agency also completed a two-year sampling project to examine levels of glyphosate and glufosinate in samples of corn, soybean, milk, and eggs. Researchers found 60% of soybean samples and 82.1% of corn samples were free of glyphosate and glufosinate residues, while milk and eggs had no detectable levels of the pesticides. 

To view the full FDA report, click here. 

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