Monitoring Pesticide Residues in Fruits and Vegetables at Two of the Biggest Fresh Produce Markets in Africa

Abstract

In most countries, fresh produce sold at local markets is usually not analyzed for agricultural chemical residues as export products are, which raises concerns about the perceived safety levels of local food supplies in contrast with exported products. The aim of this study was to determine pesticide residue levels in fruits and vegetables sold at two of the biggest fresh produce markets in Africa. A total of 199 fruit and vegetable samples were collected between 2012 and 2014 and analyzed for 74 pesticides commonly used in the horticultural sector. Of the samples analyzed, 91% were compliant with set maximum residue levels (MRLs). The remaining samples either contained unregistered chemicals (8%) or exceeded set MRL values (1%). Products containing more than one pesticide residue constituted 4.02% of all samples tested. Imazalil and iprodione were found to be the most frequently detected pesticides (12 samples each). Boscalid, endosulfan, profenofos, and procymidone were associated with the most noncompliance, including exceeding MRL values or being unregistered for the specific crop. The establishment of a national pesticide monitoring program is essential for the country and would ensure that pesticides are used in accordance with good agricultural practices.

Heavy metals content in some non-alcoholic beverages (carbonated drinks, flavored yogurt drinks, and juice drinks) of the Egyptian markets

“…Heavy metals and phthalates are considered the major detected contaminants in packaged food; specifically, beverages as confirmed by recent studies [18,19]. The main sources of beverages' contamination by toxic metals includes; the high content of toxic metals in the used fruits which may return to the contamination of agricultural soil and irrigation water [[20], [21], [22]], and the extreme use of pesticides and fertilizers during cultivation of fruits as well as fodder plants consumed by dairy animals [23,24]. As well, the contamination of water which used in the beverages production [25], besides the natural composition of raw materials which used in beverages production (water, milk, fruits and added sugar), packaging materials and used processing technologies [26].…”

Pesticide residue levels in vegetables and surface waters at the Central Rift Valley (CRV) of Ethiopia

“…Pesticide residues have been reported frequently in fruits, vegetables, and water in many countries including Ethiopia (Diop et al 2016 ; Fernandes et al 2011 ; Lu et al 2012 ; Mutengwe et al 2016 ; Ozcan 2016 ; Tadeo and Sanchez-Brunete 2003 ). However, there is very little information about pesticide residues in samples from the Central Rift Valley (CRV) region of Ethiopia.…”

Pesticidal plants in Africa: A global vision of new biological control products from local uses

“…Current approaches to insect pest control rely almost exclusively on the use of synthetic pesticides partly because alternative biorational approaches are not well-established in the market place (de Bon et al 2014;Isman, 2006). However, the former can have serious secondary impacts on the environment through misuse and on consumers through persistence on fruit and vegetables (Mutengwe et al 2016). Pesticides may often be overlooked due to their cost (Sola et al 2014) or poor efficacy (Midega et al 2016).…”