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Cardu News Network – June 26, 2012
After typhoons and heavy rains, vegetable prices have surged, and now there’s also the risk of pesticide residues. The Taipei City Health Bureau conducted inspections on pesticide residues in fresh produce sold in the market. In May, a total of 73 products were tested, and the results showed that 13 failed to meet standards, with a non-compliance rate as high as 17.81%.
The inspections covered fresh fruits and vegetables sold at retail stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, and wholesale markets operated by agricultural product companies. Out of the 73 samples tested, 46 were found to contain pesticide residues. Among these, 33 were within the permissible limits of the "Pesticide Residue Tolerance Standards," while 13 exceeded the limits.
An analysis by the Taipei City Health Bureau revealed the reasons for non-compliance: 10 samples exceeded pesticide limits, 2 contained pesticides banned for use on those specific crops, and 1 sample had both excessive pesticide levels and a banned pesticide.
The non-compliant products included items from well-known brands, such as cucumbers from Wellcome supermarkets, colored bell peppers from PX Mart, celery from Carrefour, as well as papayas, oranges, sweet peaches, bok choy, mustard greens, and kale from the Second Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market.
For the non-compliant products, the Taipei City Health Bureau has required businesses to remove them from shelves and cease sales. For suppliers located outside Taipei, the cases have been referred to their respective local health bureaus for investigation. Businesses unable to identify the source of their products will face fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 under Article 35 of the Food Sanitation Act. Those with pesticide residues exceeding safety limits will be fined between NT$60,000 and NT$6 million.
The Health Bureau emphasized that food safety begins with source control. Market inspections are part of end-stage management, and only by strengthening field monitoring at the source and providing guidance to farmers on proper pesticide use during cultivation can the issue of pesticide residues in produce be effectively reduced.
As for consumers, when purchasing fruits and vegetables, it is best to choose reputable vendors or products certified with agricultural labels issued by government agencies to ensure food safety. When washing vegetables, remove the outer leaves, rinse the roots thoroughly, and cut them off. Soak the vegetables in water for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse under running tap water 2 to 3 times. When cooking, leave the pot lid open to allow residual pesticides to evaporate with the steam.Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E8……8% 8A% E6% A6% 9C- 203820633. html;_ylt=AguImb2j5LK2PYbwWZP42YWVBdF_;_ylu=X3oDMTQ5aGdoMWw3BG1pdANTZWN0aW9uTGlzdCBGUCBMaWZlc3R5bGUEcGtnAzVhY2I2NjI0LWU2ZTMtM2MxNC1hNWVmLWIwNDhhMmQ0MjBkYQRwb3MDNARzZWMDTWVkaWFTZWN0aW9uTGlzdAR2ZXIDMDAzM2Q3NWEtYmY0ZC0xMWUxLWI1MmUtMzgyMGU2YmM0MzU2;_ylg=X3oDMTFucXJnOGdpBGludGwDdHcEbGFuZwN6aC1oYW50LXR3BHBzdGFpZAMEcHN0Y2F0A2hvbWUEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3
Pesticide Residues Found in Produce at Major Retailers
After typhoons and heavy rains, vegetable prices have surged, and now there’s also the risk of pesticide residues. The Taipei City Health Bureau conducted inspections on pesticide residues in fresh produce sold in the market. In May, a total of 73 products were tested, and the results showed that 13 failed to meet standards, with a non-compliance rate as high as 17.81%.
The inspections covered fresh fruits and vegetables sold at retail stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, and wholesale markets operated by agricultural product companies. Out of the 73 samples tested, 46 were found to contain pesticide residues. Among these, 33 were within the permissible limits of the "Pesticide Residue Tolerance Standards," while 13 exceeded the limits.
An analysis by the Taipei City Health Bureau revealed the reasons for non-compliance: 10 samples exceeded pesticide limits, 2 contained pesticides banned for use on those specific crops, and 1 sample had both excessive pesticide levels and a banned pesticide.
The non-compliant products included items from well-known brands, such as cucumbers from Wellcome supermarkets, colored bell peppers from PX Mart, celery from Carrefour, as well as papayas, oranges, sweet peaches, bok choy, mustard greens, and kale from the Second Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market.
For the non-compliant products, the Taipei City Health Bureau has required businesses to remove them from shelves and cease sales. For suppliers located outside Taipei, the cases have been referred to their respective local health bureaus for investigation. Businesses unable to identify the source of their products will face fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 under Article 35 of the Food Sanitation Act. Those with pesticide residues exceeding safety limits will be fined between NT$60,000 and NT$6 million.
The Health Bureau emphasized that food safety begins with source control. Market inspections are part of end-stage management, and only by strengthening field monitoring at the source and providing guidance to farmers on proper pesticide use during cultivation can the issue of pesticide residues in produce be effectively reduced.
As for consumers, when purchasing fruits and vegetables, it is best to choose reputable vendors or products certified with agricultural labels issued by government agencies to ensure food safety. When washing vegetables, remove the outer leaves, rinse the roots thoroughly, and cut them off. Soak the vegetables in water for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse under running tap water 2 to 3 times. When cooking, leave the pot lid open to allow residual pesticides to evaporate with the steam.Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E8……8% 8A% E6% A6% 9C- 203820633. html;_ylt=AguImb2j5LK2PYbwWZP42YWVBdF_;_ylu=X3oDMTQ5aGdoMWw3BG1pdANTZWN0aW9uTGlzdCBGUCBMaWZlc3R5bGUEcGtnAzVhY2I2NjI0LWU2ZTMtM2MxNC1hNWVmLWIwNDhhMmQ0MjBkYQRwb3MDNARzZWMDTWVkaWFTZWN0aW9uTGlzdAR2ZXIDMDAzM2Q3NWEtYmY0ZC0xMWUxLWI1MmUtMzgyMGU2YmM0MzU2;_ylg=X3oDMTFucXJnOGdpBGludGwDdHcEbGFuZwN6aC1oYW50LXR3BHBzdGFpZAMEcHN0Y2F0A2hvbWUEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3