Environmental Working Group (EWG) has published their 2020 guide to the Dirty Dozen, which is a list of fruits and vegetables that are likely to have the most pesticide residue. The biggest change is EWG comment on raisins, which were not on the list but were mentioned for the first time. Raisins were tested for … Read more
The California Department of Public Health is warning consumers not to eat cactus pads, also called noodles, that have been imported from Mexico because they have contain unapproved pesticides. This product was sold at specific retail and wholesale locations around the state and may have been sold in other states. The California Department of Pesticide … Read more
The FDA’s weekly Enforcement Report for December 23, 2015 has revealed that many products sold at HEB stores were recalled because they used an ingredient that had too much pesticide residue. The Enforcement Report lists recalls that are not, for some reason, displayed on the FDA’s recall site. You can see the long list of … Read more
The FDA’s weekly Enforcement Report often reveals recalls that were not released to the general public. This week there were several of note. Curley Parsley produced by MR Cula, doing business as Riley’s, has been recalled because the product tested positive for the pesticides propanocarb and trifloxystrobin. The UPC code on that product is 740695801109. … Read more
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has fined six companies that are charged with selling fruits and vegetables with illegal pesticide residues to predominantly ethnic minority customers. The fines range from $10,000 to more than $20,000. Brian Leahy, DPR director, said in a statement, “These companies were importing and selling produce to stores that … Read more
The Government Accountability Office has released a new report that states the FDA and USDA should strengthen their pesticide residue monitoring programs and disclose the limitations of their systems. The most recent data from 2008 through 2012 shows that residue in 10 selected fruits and vegetables is low, but the monitoring approach has limitations. GAO … Read more
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has released a report saying that the majority of produce it tests annually has “little or no detectable pesticide residues and posed no health risk to the public.” Ninety-five percent of all California grown products sampled in 2013 was in compliance with allowable limits. Each piece of produce may … Read more
U.S. District Court Judge Barry M. Kurren has struck down the Kaua’i county law against genetically modified (GM) crops, saying it is preempted by Hawaiian state law. The order forbids county officials from implementing and enforcing Ordinance 960, which required more disclosure from huge biotech companies about pesticide use and GMO farming. The Ordinance also required buffer … Read more
The Bee Informed Partnership, in collaboration with the USDA and Apiary Inspectors of American have released a preliminary report on their eighth annual national survey of honey bee colony losses. Honey bees pollinate one-third of the crops grown for food in the United States. The survey found that for the winter of 2013/2014, 23.2% of … Read more
A new study conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health and published in the Bulletin of Insectology has found that two widely used neonicotinoids (pesticides) appear to “significantly harm honey bee colonies over the winter.” And the colder the winter, the more severe the harm. The study replicated a 2012 finding that found a … Read more