New Delhi: Vegetables, fruits and even organic food available at your nearest retail outlets may contain residues of banned pesticides in them.
A recent report released by the Ministry of Agriculture has found traces of banned pesticides in samples collected from various outlets across India.
The study was carried out by ministry to check residues in samples of vegetables, fruits, spices, red chilli powder, curry leaves, rice, wheat, pulses, tea and milk.
Officials collected samples from various retail outlets, farms and organic outlets located in different parts of the country, and tested them in 25 participating laboratories for groups of pesticide residues such as organo-chlorine, organo-phosphorous, synthetic pyrethroids, carbamates and herbicides.
A total of 20,618 samples were tested and pesticide residues detected in 18.7 per cent of them.
Chemical contamination above the Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) was detected in 2.6 per cent samples as prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The lab results found that 12.5 per cent of samples also had residue of non-approved pesticides.
Over 8000 samples of vegetables including brinjal, okra, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, green chilli, capsicum were subjected to tests and in 2.7 per cent samples pesticide residues were found exceeding the MRL.
While 18.8 per cent of fruit samples (2239) analysed contained measurable residues from which 1.8 per cent of samples contained residues above MRL. Out of 805 wheat samples, 17 were found to be carrying residues of deltamethrin pesticides above MRL
After the report has found concerning levels of pesticide residues, the ministry has started awareness programmes for farmers.
A recent report released by the Ministry of Agriculture has found traces of banned pesticides in samples collected from various outlets across India.
The study was carried out by ministry to check residues in samples of vegetables, fruits, spices, red chilli powder, curry leaves, rice, wheat, pulses, tea and milk.
Officials collected samples from various retail outlets, farms and organic outlets located in different parts of the country, and tested them in 25 participating laboratories for groups of pesticide residues such as organo-chlorine, organo-phosphorous, synthetic pyrethroids, carbamates and herbicides.
A total of 20,618 samples were tested and pesticide residues detected in 18.7 per cent of them.
Chemical contamination above the Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) was detected in 2.6 per cent samples as prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The lab results found that 12.5 per cent of samples also had residue of non-approved pesticides.
Over 8000 samples of vegetables including brinjal, okra, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, green chilli, capsicum were subjected to tests and in 2.7 per cent samples pesticide residues were found exceeding the MRL.
While 18.8 per cent of fruit samples (2239) analysed contained measurable residues from which 1.8 per cent of samples contained residues above MRL. Out of 805 wheat samples, 17 were found to be carrying residues of deltamethrin pesticides above MRL
After the report has found concerning levels of pesticide residues, the ministry has started awareness programmes for farmers.
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