2007 Peppers Survey: January Results
PRC Secretariat
12 April 2007
Updated 12 June 2007
Detailed Results
The detailed results (4 pages) are in pdf format. They include details such as brand names and where the samples were taken.
Did you find any residues of isophenfos-methyl?
Yes, we found isophenfos-methyl in two samples from Spain.
Background information on isofenphos-methyl in peppers
A rapid alert about these two samples has been issued to other EU Member States through the European Commission
Are there any health effects expected from the residues found?
No.
PSD has carried out ten risk assessments on these results. The Food Standards Agency agrees with these assessments.
The full risk assessments (3 pages) are in pdf format.
1 sample contained a residue of acrinathrin, at 0.13 mg/kg. There is no Maximum Residue Level (MRL) for acrinathrin in peppers.
There is no Acute Reference Dose (ARfD) for acrinathrin because it is not acutely toxic. PSD calculated that all the intakes were within the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). An ARfD would not be less than this ADI. Therefore no effect on health would be expected.
2 samples contained a residue of biphenyl . The higher level found was 0.07 mg/kg. There is no MRL for biphenyl in peppers
There is no ARfD for biphenyl because it is not acutely toxic. PSD calculated that all the intakes were within the ADI. An ARfD would not be less than this ADI. Therefore no effect on health would be expected.
1 sample contained a residue of cyproconazole, at 0.03 mg/kg. There is no MRL for cyproconazole in peppers.
The risk assessment showed that intakes for 7-10 year olds (the most vulnerable group of consumers) were below the ARfD for cyproconazole.
2 samples contained residues of isofenphos-methyl. The higher level found was 0.1 mg/kg. There are no MRLs for isofenphos-methyl.
There is no ARfD for isofenphos-methyl. However there is an ARfD for isofenphos-ethyl and the methyl derivative of organophosphorus pesticides tends to be less toxic than the ethyl. The risk assessment showed that intakes for 7-10 year olds (the most vulnerable group of consumers) were below the safety limit (ARfD) for isofenphos-ethyl.
1 sample contained a residue of pyridaben, at 0.03 mg/kg. There is no MRL for pyridaben in peppers.
The risk assessment showed that intakes for 7-10 year olds (the most vulnerable group of consumers) were below the ARfD for pyridaben.
2 sample contained a residue of pyrimethanil. The higher level found was 0.17 mg/kg. There is no MRL for pyrimethanil in peppers.
There is no Acute Reference Dose (ARfD) for pyrimethanil because it is not acutely toxic. PSD calculated that all the intakes were within the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). An ARfD would not be less than this ADI. Therefore no effect on health would be expected.
1 sample contained a residue of tetrachlorvinphos, at 0.05 mg/kg. There is no MRL for tetrachlorvinphos in peppers.
There is no Acute Reference Dose (ARfD) for tetrachlorvinphos. PSD calculated that all the intakes were within the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). An ARfD would not be less than this ADI. Therefore no effect on health would be expected.
1 sample contained residues of 4 organophosphorus pesticides (chlorpyrifos-methyl at 0.14 mg/kg, isofenphos-methyl at 0.1 mg/kg, malathion at 0.02 mg/kg and pirimiphos-methyl at 0.21 mg/kg
Calculated intakes for chlorphyrifos-methyl were up to 2.3% of the ARfD, for isofenphos-methyl up to 24% of the ARfD for isofenphos-ethyl, for malathion up to 0.02% of the ARfD and for pirimiphos-methyl up to 2.3% of the ARfD. Therefore no effect on health would be expected from the combined intake of these pesticides.
1 sample contained residues of 2 organophosphorus pesticides (indoxacarb at 0.04 mg/kg and pirimiphos-methyl at 0.16 mg/kg)
Calculated intakes for indoxacarb were up to 0.7% of the ARfD and for primiphos-methyl up to 1.8% of the ARfD. Therefore no effect on health would be expected friom the combined intake of these pesticides.
When will the Pesticide Residues Committee formally consider these results?
The Pesticide Residues Committee have seen these results and will discuss them at their next meeting in May 2007.
The Committee will discuss the results for 2007 Quarter 1 (January to March) as a whole at their meeting in July 2007.
Summary of Results
How many samples did you take?
23
Where did they come from?
7 samples were imported from outside the EU, all from Israel.
16 samples were from the EU, all from Spain
How many samples contained residues above the MRL?
None
How many samples contained residues only below the MRL and/or residues of pesticides with no MRLs in peppers?
17 samples contained residues below the MRL and/or residues of pesticides with no MRLs in peppers
- 1 from Israel
- 16 from Spain
How many samples contained more than one residue?
11 samples, all from Spain, contained more than one residue
- 1 sample contained 2 residues
- 1 sample contained 3 residues
- 4 samples contained 4 residues
- 2 samples contained 6 residues
- 1 sample contained 7 residues
- 2 samples contained 8 residues