Our Food Is Safe--Are We Surprised??

The annual summary from the USDA-AMS Pesticide Data Program (PDP) dated Jan. 2016 presents results from data collected in 2014 on pesticide residues in food. The results provide overwhelming evidence for what we in agriculture have always known; i.e., the food that the US population consumes is safe from pesticide contaminants. In my opinion, this confirmation of a long-known fact is worth touting to the general population, but regrettably, it will not be.

Here is a summary of the research protocol and findings presented in the report.

• The PDP tests a wide variety of domestic and imported foods, and uses current, accepted laboratory procedures and methods to determine pesticide levels, and uses accepted statistical practices to analyze test results.


• PDP laboratory methods are designed to detect the lowest possible levels of pesticide residues, even when those levels are well below the tolerances established by EPA.


• Domestic samples are collected and analyzed from all regions of the US.


• Samples are randomly chosen close to the time and point of consumption (distribution points rather than farm gate) and reflect what is typically available to the consumer.


• In 2014, the PDP surveys were conducted on a wide variety of foods that included fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, oats, rice, infant formula, and salmon.


• Of the total of 10,619 samples collected and tested, 8,582 (80.8%) were fresh and processed fruit and vegetable products, 314 were oat (3%), 314 were rice (3%), 1,055 (9.9%) were infant formula, and 354 (3.3%) were salmon.


• 75.5% of all samples were produced in the US and 22.9% were imports.


• Of the tested samples, over 41% had no detectable pesticide residue and over 99% had residues below EPA tolerances.


• Residues exceeding tolerances were detected in 38 samples (0.36%), and the distribution between domestic and imported sources was evenly split.


 

These results show that pesticide residues found in agricultural products are at levels that do not pose a risk to US consumers’ health.

To view the complete report, which includes sampling schedule, products sampled and their origin, compounds tested for and their range of detected concentrations, and residue results for environmental contaminants (pesticides no longer used in the US), click here.

 

The above PDP report paints a convincing picture of the safety of pesticide use as related to food quality. However, there is another positive side of using pesticides in agriculture, and this is presented in detail in Cast Issue Paper No. 55 published in Nov. 2014. A summary of the main points in that publication follow.

Weed management and herbicide use

Along with better and more efficient weed mangement, herbicide use has resulted in adoption of improved agronomic practices such as minimum tillage and narrower rows.

Use of herbicides to manage and control weeds in crops is more economical than using tillage and human labor, and has resulted in higher yields because of less competition from uncontrolled weeds.

Chemical weed control is more reliable and will be more timely than tillage weed control, and leads to lower fuel use and fewer carbon emissions.

Widespread adoption of conservation tillage systems for crop production would likely not have occurred without herbicides.

Disease control with fungicides

Fungi are the most prevalent plant pathogens. For most crops, some type of management of fungal pathogens must be practiced to prevent losses in yield and quality. Chemicals for plant disease control are an essential component in this effort because of the inadequacy of non-chemical control measures.

Fungicides, coupled with the continued development and use of crop cultivars that are resistant to present and forthcoming races of a pathogen, have proven to be an effective tool for disease control and management in cropping systems.

Using fungicides for disease control in field crops, vegetable crops, and tree fruits has resulted in increased crop yields and farm income.

Insect management with insecticides

Using insecticides as a component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is effective when the insecticide component is used in a systems approach that emphasizes their selective use and sustainability of insecticide efficacy. IPM recognizes that pesticides must be judiciously used against the target species, and that good pest management integrates the best agronomic practices along with the best crop germplasm/genetics to obtain high crop yields and quality and sustain a safe and abundant food supply.

Insecticides are used with the goal of removing only the targeted organism, and then only after monitoring or scouting indicates they are needed according to established guidelines and thresholds.

Insecticides are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risk to human health, beneficial species, and the environment.

Application of insecticides is a calculated response to known pest populations and the risk of crop loss, and they are applied to protect producer investment in the crop.

 

Pesticides have a critical role to play in increased food production. However, evaluation of a pesticide that is to be used on crops is based on the concept that the benefits from its use must far outweigh any potential risk from its use. With proper regulation and use, they can be safely used for the intended purpose.

Pesticides are but one component in the goal of increased food production, and should be coupled with enhancing the competitive ability of crop plants through selective breeding, properly using and applying fertilizers, improving soil and water management, and developing genetically modified crops.

Pesticide diversity must be practiced to prevent or delay the selection of pest species for resistant types that are not controlled by currently available pesticides.

Pesticide use in agriculture has 1) led to increased crop yield and quality, 2) lessened the workload associated with pest management, and 3) improved the potential for long-term sustainability of food production.

Sound and meaningful regulation should be practiced in pesticide development to ensure that, as new pesticides are developed and become available, they are thoroughly evaluated for safety and efficacy. It is apparent from the results of the PDP survey cited above that this is taking place.

Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, Jan. 2016, larryheatherly@bellsouth.net