Presence of Internationally Banned Pesticides in Domestic Peruvian Quinoa During Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The global showcase for the promotion of the Andean grain quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) resulted in a rapid increase in international demand, which has had a direct impact on Peruvian food safety. The excessive use of pesticides results in high levels of pesticide residues in food, causing both environmental and health problems in the population. The objective of this article was to analyze if residues of internationally banned pesticides were present in the quinoa consumed by Peruvians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-seven different brands of packed white quinoa (10 sold as organically certified and 17 sold as conventional) were purchased in various supermarkets and bio-shops across metropolitan Lima on January 26, 2021. The pesticide residues in the samples were determined in a laboratory. The study found that Peruvian quinoa not only contained residues of internationally banned pesticides, but also had levels that exceed the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Union. For consumer safety, it is important that the government make the proposed regulations regarding hazardous pesticides clear to the public.

Understanding Factors That Influence Pest Risk in Olive Production

“…Although pesticides are considered an easy, economical, and reliable solution to maintaining high levels of agricultural productivity, excessive use of chemicals to control pests can lead to high levels of residues of these substances in food. Pesticides are a tool that allows for increased food production; however, if used excessively or inappropriately, they can generate high levels of residues in the food consumed, which can have negative consequences for human and domestic animals' health and the environment [4][5][6].…”