A new report takes a look at the startling levels of pesticides that can be found among some produce in the Bay Area. Although California has some of the most stringent rules in the country in regards to pesticides, these findings make it clear that there is still work to be done in order to safeguard public health.
The latest findings came about following a series of surprise inspections by the state. 3,600 sample tests are carried out on an annual basis, and they can point out chemical signatures indicative of pesticides.
Imported products are of particular concern, with one investigator noting that the regulations in place in the United States and California specifically are far tougher thant what you could find in some other parts of the world. A member of the State Department of Pesticide Regulation said that 40% of samples show traces of pesticides but that no more than 4% go beyond state or federal limits.
A member of the Pesticide Action Network explains that an item not meeting the legal limit doesn’t necessarily mean that safety can be assured. She pointed out that some items may have a combination of multiple pesticides and that these could react negatively upon consumption.