USDA Finds Pesticide Residues below EPA Tolerances in 99 Percent of U.S. Fruit, Vegetable Samples
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA’s AMS) has found the majority of fruits and vegetables in the U.S. to contain pesticide residues below the tolerances established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to the agency’s Pesticide Data Program (PDP) summary for 2021.
To collect data for its annual report, PDP works with state agencies representing all census regions of the country and nearly half of the U.S. population. In 2021, analyzed samples were collected in California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Washington.