Pesticide Residues in Food Data and Federal Oversight

From 1970 to 2007, hundreds of millions of pounds of pesticides were applied annually to U.S. food crops to protect them from pests. To protect consumers, EPA sets standards -- known as tolerances -- for pesticide residues on foods. FSIS monitors meat, poultry, and processed egg products to ensure they do not violate EPA's tolerances, and FDA monitors other foods, including fruits and vegetables. AMS gathers annual residue data for highly consumed foods, although not for enforcement purposes. This book examines what FDA data show with respect to pesticide residue violations in the foods that it regulates; what FSIS data show with respect to pesticide residue violations in the foods that it regulates; and what AMS data show with respect to pesticide residue levels in fruits and vegetables.