How Much Pesticide Residue on Your Produce? FDA Doesn't Know New GAO report reveals FDA doing scant

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report (pdf) found that in 2012, the FDA tested less than one-tenth of 1 percent of imported shipments.

FDA does not test for some commonly used pesticides—like glyphosate—for which the EPA has established tolerance levels, nor does FDA disclose in its annual reports that it doesn't do this testing, the GAO analysis states.

In addition, GAO charges, "FDA does not use statistically valid methods consistent with Office of Management and Budget standards to collect national information on the incidence and level of pesticide residues."

How Much Pesticide Residue on Your Produce? FDA Doesn't Know New GAO report reveals FDA doing scant testing for pesticides

Personally I think this is a huge issue. It's bigger then just washing your produce as pesticides and herbicides fall on the ground, get carried to the roots and drawn up by the crops and so are in the entire plant.

It really isn't a partisan issue, but it has become one.

It makes me sad to think that Monsanto's (and other big chem companies) profits trump public safety and our right to know what is in the foods we put in our famiy's mouths.

A partial solution, at an individual level, is to eat and buy organic. But even so, these agri-toxins are ubiquious in the biosphere. If you worry that ebola can travel on the air - how much more so with these daily poisions.

How do you propose we tackle this negation of our rights? Will 'market' forces make growers and importers disclose the chemicals they use on our food.

Seriously, now.

Is this a problem or not?

If so, how should we get the information to make 'informed' decisions about who we buy from?

It could be in the seeds as well.

Ask them anything............

Q: How much pesticide and / or weed killer gets absorbed into freshly planted GM seeds from residual amounts in the soil from previous treatments ?

And how much gets absorbed by plants through roots after new treatments ?

And, do end products retain any pesticide or weed killer amounts (other than washable surface amounts) that would be unsafe to humans ?

Who determines safe levels if any levels do in fact exist ?

And finally, are different amounts absorbed by non-GM originated plants ?

Question Submitted By: xuenchen from chicago, Illinois

Expert Answer

a reply to: FyreByrd

It makes me sad to think that Monsanto's (and other big chem companies) profits trump public safety and our right to know what is in the foods we put in our famiy's mouths.

Do you think that Monsanto (and other big chem companies) sneak out into farm fields at night, spreading pesticides?

No, I don't and fail to see the relevance of your question.

a reply to: FyreByrd

No, I don't and fail to see the relevance of your question.

The relevance is that Monsanto does not force farmers to use their products.

This is not to say that inadequate testing by the FDA is not of concern.

a reply to: FyreByrd

We need to remember that just because the FDA approves something, doesn't mean that it works. Look at the Dr Oz scandal. All those "miracle" pills for weight loss and other various things that were approved by the FDA but they don't work and we know they don't work.

a reply to: Phage

You know.. i have always wondered about this.. not just this gmo bs.. cause really we are being forced to eat this if you don't grow your own food.. but things in general.. what makes something so crappy become so popular.. elected officials, videos, drugs, hookers.. why?

And the other question is... with it being such a crappy product why does it stay on the market? Usually in free trade the people dictate things.. not the government.

originally posted by: Sabiduria
a reply to: FyreByrd

We need to remember that just because the FDA approves something, doesn't mean that it works. Look at the Dr Oz scandal. All those "miracle" pills for weight loss and other various things that were approved by the FDA but they don't work and we know they don't work.

tobacco would be a good example

The amount they test is probably reasonable. Short of testing 100% of product which is prohibitive you can't weed out any anomalies, but a statistically small sample can find larger issues and that's what the FDA is largely focused on. They regulate widespread practices not individual pieces of food.

That said, it sounds like they're not testing for some things that they should be testing for.

originally posted by: ThichHeaded
a reply to: Phage

You know.. i have always wondered about this.. not just this gmo bs.. cause really we are being forced to eat this if you don't grow your own food.. but things in general.. what makes something so crappy become so popular.. elected officials, videos, drugs, hookers.. why?

And the other question is... with it being such a crappy product why does it stay on the market? Usually in free trade the people dictate things.. not the government.

The reason is that a free market doesn't result in customers getting the best quality product. It results in customers getting the most competitive product and part of competition is cost to produce, frequency of purchase, and marketing. When you include those factors Monsanto products are very attractive to farmers. Throw in the murkiness of marketing and a healthy dose of consumer ignorance/apathy and their stuff sells.

a reply to: ThichHeaded

not just this gmo bs

This is not about GMOs. It is about pesticides.

And the other question is... with it being such a crappy product why does it stay on the market?

You mean pesticides?
Apparently they are an effective product. That's why they are used.

a reply to: Phage

Right I forgot that gmo a didn't use pesticide in Thier seeds.. my blow.

a reply to: ThichHeaded

Right I forgot that gmo a didn't use pesticide in Thier seeds.

I don't think crop seeds enter the food market but non-GM seeds are also treated with pesticides. Seed treatment actually results in an overall lowered use of pesticides since it cuts down on soil treatment.

pest.ca.uky.edu...

a reply to: Phage

Well since you think it's safe.. that's cool.. some choose not to have corn with a side of round up.

And aren't pesticides being accused of the killing off of millions of bees? Or is that CT hoopla?

a reply to: ThichHeaded
Would your rather have 2,4D used as a pesticide? The use of glyphosate has cut down on its use as well as others which are scarier.

And aren't pesticides being accused of the killing off of millions of bees?

Well, since bees are insects, it sort of follows that insecticides would not be good for them, right? That would seem to be an argument for GM crops though, since using insect resistant plants would mean reducing in the use of sprayed insecticides.

Oh, I said the apparent lack of adequate testing is a matter of concern, didn't I?

a reply to: Phage

Why did you ask if the user thought that Monsanto (and other big chem companies) sneak out into farm fields at night, spreading pesticides? They don't need to sneak out to do it when it's already standard procedure for their farms to spray products with pesticides.

a reply to: Sabiduria
Monsanto does not produce food crops. Farmers do.
And it's farmers who use pesticides on those crops.

With studies like these: it shouldn't come as a surprise that the FDA doesn't do/know anything:

Washington State University researchers say ancestral exposures to the pesticide methoxychlor may lead to adult onset kidney disease, ovarian disease and obesity in future generations.

Pesticide linked to three generations of disease: Methoxychlor causes epigenetic changes

New research published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry addresses the effects of two broad-spectrum systemic insecticides, fipornil and imidacloprid, on honeybees. These insecticides are widely used in agriculture, and the authors conclude that fipronil and imidacloprid are inhibitors of mitochondrial bioenergetics, resulting in depleted cell energy. This action can explain the toxicity of these compounds for honeybees.

Fipronil, imidacloprid reduce honeybee mitochondrial activity

The study shows how long-term pesticide exposure affects individual bees' day-to-day behaviour, including pollen collection and which flowers worker bees chose to visit.

Bee foraging chronically impaired by pesticide exposure

a reply to: Phage

Yes, Monstanto doesn't have regulations for their farms who mass produce products. Yes, Monsanto doesn't supply huge amounts of pesticide products. I completely forgot that.

a reply to: Sabiduria

Monsanto does not raise food crops.

Yes, Monsanto produces pesticides. Pesticides which farmers like to use because they increase their productivity.

a reply to: Phage

Again, for Monstanto's mass producing food farms, not the everyday individual farm, Monstanto has procedures in place on how the food is to be grown. They need to have procedures so that their products stay as uniform as possible.