Baby food production chain: Pesticide residues in fresh apples and products

Abstract

During 3 years of a monitoring programme, 522 samples of fresh apples, six brands of fruit purées and various types of fruit baby food prepared from these materials were analysed. Each sample was examined for the presence of 86 GC amenable pesticide residues. The reporting limits of the procedure employed for sample analyses were in the range 0.003-0.01 mg kg(-1). Pesticide residues were detected in 59.5% of the samples of fresh apples. However, maximum residue levels (European Union MRLs) were exceeded only in 1.4% of samples. The levels of residues in 'positive' fruit purées were substantially lower, overall with residues detected in 33% of samples. Fruit baby food represented the commodity with the lowest incidence of residues being detected in only 16% of samples. The 0.01 mg kg(-1) MRL was exceeded in 9% of these products. Multiple residues were found in 25% of fresh apples and in 10% of fruit purées. None of fruit baby food samples contained more than a single residue. Organophosphorus insecticides and fungicides representing phtalimides, sulphamides and dicarboximides were the most frequently found residues. To obtain more knowledge on the fate of residues during fruit baby food production, processing experiments employing apples with incurred residues (fenitrothion, phosalone and tolylfluanid) were conducted. Washing of apples did not significantly reduce the content of pesticides. Steam boiling followed by removal of peels/stems was identified as the most efficient steps in terms of residues decrease (phosalone) or complete elimination (fenitrothion and tolylfluanid).

The novel endocrine disruptor tolylfluanid impairs insulin signaling in primary rodent and human adipocytes through a reduction in insulin receptor substrate-1 levels

“…Tissue levels of phenylsulfamides in humans have not been reported; however, there is ample evidence of human exposure. Approximately 20% of apples tested in the Czech Republic [30] and 46% analyzed in Slovenia were shown to be TF-positive [31]. In fact, TF was among the most common pesticides detected in fruits and vegetables in southeastern Poland at concentrations up to 1.44 mg/kg [32].…”

“…Greenhouse-grown strawberries in Norway had TF levels of approximately 13 mg/kg four days after the most recent application [33]. Importantly, washing did not significantly reduce TF residues on apples [30]. Marine concentrations of phenylsulfamides are a consequence of both agricultural run-off as well as leaching from anti-fouling paints, with levels varying depending upon local agricultural and shipping activities.…”

Green Aspects of Techniques for the Determination of Currently Used Pesticides in Environmental Samples

“…As powerful as MS is, the low-resolution, scanning MS system has limits in data collection rate, avoidance of interferences, and spectral information provided for identification purposes. Currently, low-resolution (unit mass) MS detectors employing either single quadrupole or ion trap analyzers are most routinely used in applications [84–86]. Furthermore, innovations in chromatographic particle chemistry (from 5 to 3.5 or 1.8 μm packing in LC, as well as new bonding chemistries) have improved the separation of pesticides [87].…”

Effects of phosalone consumption via feeding with or without sodium bentonite on performance, blood metabolites and its transition to milk of Iranian Baluchi sheep

“…Phosalone is an organophosphate pesticide (OP) that has been widely used by Iranian farmers. Phosalone residues in food and feed with different concentration have been reported by researchers in Iran and other countries [76, 88, 93]. Low levels of phosalone were found [80] in fat and liver (only at 100 ppm) of beef cattle and sheep when administrated in feed at concentrations of 10, 30, and 100 ppm.…”