Pesticide Residues in Food

Pesticides commonly refer to plant protection products. But the term also encompasses biocide products controlling pests and disease carriers like insects, rats, and mice, not intended for plant use.

A pesticide is any substance that prevents, destroys, or manages harmful organisms or diseases, safeguarding plants or plant products throughout production, storage, and transport.

Under the umbrella of ‘pesticides’ are various types, including herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, acaricides, plant growth regulators, and repellents.

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Concentrations of Pesticides and their Toxicity

Maximum Residue Levels of Pesticides

The maximum residue level (MRL) is the highest legal concentration of a pesticide residue in food or feed. It is set in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. The MRL is based on good agricultural practice and aims to ensure the lowest consumer exposure. This regulation also addresses official controls of pesticide residues in food of plant and animal origin arising from their use in plant protection.

In the EU, regulatory authorities have approved 476 active substances. They have established EU-harmonized MRLs for over 1,300 pesticides covering 378 food matrices. Frequent regulatory updates necessitate monitoring more metabolites.

To ensure the quality of pesticide analytical results within the EU, the SANTE/12682/2019 guidance document on Analytical Quality Control and Method Validation Procedures for Pesticide Residue Analysis in Food and Feed was published and periodically updated. This document outlines method validation and analytical quality control requirements to validate data used for checking compliance with MRLs, enforcement actions, or assessment of consumer exposure to pesticides in the EU.

Plant protection products cannot be marketed or used without prior authorization. Under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, EFSA evaluates active substances used in these products, while Member States evaluate and authorize the products at national level.

Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues

EFSA conducts risk assessments of MRLs of pesticides permitted in EU-market products of plant or animal origin.

EFSA provides scientific advice to the EC on potential risks related to pesticide residue presence in food and feed treated with plant protection products, and suggests MRLs. Additionally, it offers administrative and scientific support to the Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues (PPR Panel).

EFSA is responsible for peer reviewing the risk assessment of active substances used in EU plant protection products. It ensures their safety concerning human health, animal health, and environmental impact.

FAO, WHO, and EFSA collaborate to conduct several opinions, risk assessments, and studies to evaluate:

• The toxicity of active substances
• The cumulative dietary exposure risk
• The recommended MRLs based on risk assessment results

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Mérieux NutriSciences’ Services for Pesticide Residues

We offer a wide range of services to food manufacturers for pesticide quantification, ensuring compliance with regulations and quality standards.

Our services include:

• Multi-residue Method (MRM): typically analyzing 400-1000 analytes with one preparation step, using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS, depending on pesticide characteristics, sensitivity, and interferences.
• Single-residue Method (SRM): necessary when analytes cannot be detected with the multi-method, such as hydrolysis, polar pesticides, volatile substances, and pesticides undergoing oxidation, sensitivity, or interference issues.

With more sensitive equipment and chromatographic options, the trend is towards measuring several analytes with similar properties together, improving efficiency.

Contact us to learn more about our services and how Mérieux NutriSciences can support you: