Analysis of Berries for Residues and Contaminants (January to August 2016)

Ein Bericht aus unserem Laboralltag

Kathi Hacker, Nadja Bauer

 

Summer is so delicious! Sweet fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and also currants are loved by consumers for their fruity, fresh taste and versatility. At the same time, these fruits are very sensitive and vulnerable to various harmful organisms, necessitating commercial growers of these types of berries to apply pesticides. Therefore, within the realm of our official food control program, we analyzed berries for the presence of pesti-cide residues and contaminants in 2016 as well.

Schmuckelement.

 

Summary

From January to August 2016 CVUA Stuttgart analyzed a total of 157 berry samples from conventional production and 14 from organ-ic production for the presence of over 700 pesticide substances, pesticide metabolites and contaminants. Among the conventional berry samples there were 81 bush berries and 76 strawberries, 69 % (109 samples) of which were locally grown. The legal maximum res-idue level (MRL) was exceeded in 11 (7 %) samples. Among the organically grown berries 10 out of 14 samples (71 %) were com-pletely free of residues.

 

Pesticide Residues

Berries from Conventional Cultivation

Currants: Except for one sample from the Netherlands, all of the other currants were locally grown. Pesticides were detected in 32 of the 34 (94 %) analyzed currants. Residues of one or more substances in levels above the legal MRL for currants were found in four (12 %) samples. Multiple substance residues were detected in 29 (85 %) samples (see Info Box regarding multiple residues). On average the currants contained 8.9 substances per sample and an average pesticide amount of 1.0 mg/kg currants. For the analysis of the so-called indication authorization (see Info Box) residues of pesticidal substances that are not authorized for use on currants in Germany were detected in seven (21 %) of the 33 locally grown currants. Furthermore, two of these seven samples taken from the market contained residues from pesticidal substances that have a general ban in Germany.

 

Gooseberries: All 10 of the analyzed gooseberries, which are marketed as products of Germany, were detected with pesticide residues. Moreover, nine of these samples contained multiple substances, at an average of 10.1 substances per sample and an average pesticide amount of 0.55 mg/kg gooseberries. Two of the samples (20 %) had residues of one substance each that were above the legal MRL, as well as substances that are not authorized for use on gooseberries in Germany.

 

Raspberries: Eleven of the 15 raspberries analyzed in this reporting year were locally grown. All of the raspberries were detected with residues from multiple substances per sample. On average the raspberries contained 5.8 substances per sample and an average pesticide amount of 0.92 mg/kg raspberries, which is under the legal MRL. However, one of the 11 samples (9 %) grown in Germany contained a substance that is not authorized for use on raspberries in Germany.

 

Blackberries: A total of four samples were analyzed; three from Germany and one from the Netherlands. The blackberries contained an average of 5.3 substances per sample, with an average pesticide amount of 0.17 mg/kg blackberries.

 

Strawberries: In addition to the 81 bush berries, 76 strawberry samples were also analyzed for pesticide residues and contaminants; 43 of these were grown locally. Pesticide residues were detected in 75 of the 76 samples (99 %); 74 samples contained residues from multiple substances. On average the strawberries contained 6.3 substances and 0.39 mg pesticide per kg strawberry. Three of the samples (14 %) were detected with pesticide residues that exceeded the legal MRL for strawberries. Three additional strawberries (2 from Spain, 1 from Italy) were also detected with chlorate in amounts over 0.01 mg/kg. Fortunately, in this reporting year none of the German grown strawberries contained any unauthorized substances.

 

Table 1: Residues in berries from conventional cultivation (CVUA Stuttgart, January to August, 2016)
Fruit No. Samples Samples w/ Residues Samples w/ Multiple Residues Ave. Amount of Pesticide (w/o Fosetyl) [mg/kg] Samples > MRL
** excluding chlorate
Substances > MRL
Strawberries 76 75 (99 %) 74 (97 %) 0.39 3 (4 %)* 2x Spinosad, Chlorpropham
Currants 34 32 (94 %) 29 (85 %) 1.0 4 (12 %) Ametoctradin, Dimethoate (Sum), Fenazaquin, Fosetyl (Sum), Methoxyfenozide, Procymidone, Tebufenozide, Vinclozolin
Raspberries 15 15 (100 %) 15 (100 %) 0.92 0 -
Blueberries 15 14 (93 %) 13 (87 %) 0.19 2 (13 %) 2x Fosetyl (Sum)
Gooseberries 10 10 (100 %) 9 (90 %) 0.55 2 (20 %) Ametoctradin,
Fosetyl (Sum)
Cranberries, Jostaberries and Blackberries 7

 

10 (100 %) 6 (86 %) 0.10 0  
Total

Comparisons:*
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
157


179
178
211
171
182
194
153 (97 %)


177 (99 %)
169 (95 %)
193 (92 %)
158 (92 %)
157 (86 %)
183 (94%)
146 (93%)


165 (92 %)
165 (93 %)
185 (88 %)
145 (85 %)
143 (79 %)
163 (84%)
  11 (7 %) 


6 (3.4 %)
1 (0.6 %)
10 (5 %)
4 (2 %)
1 (0.5 %)
6 (3%)
 

MRL = Maximum Residue Level;
* The comparability of these data is limited because the numbers and types of contaminated fruits that are analyzed differ from year to year.
** 3 additional strawberry samples with MRL exceedances from chlorate (2x Spain, 1x Italy) were not included in these calculations.

 

Info Box

Indication Authorization
((§ 12 (1) Plant Protection Law))

The Indication Authorization law has been valid for all pesticides since 1 July, 2001. It states that the substances in question are authorized, but may be utilized only within the scope of application stipulated in the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) authorization databank https://portal.bvl.bund.de/psm/jsp/. [3]

 

In addition, § 22 of the plant protection law (PflSchG) allows for certain exceptions, in which the responsible authorities from the federal states can broaden the parameters for which an authorized pesticide may be used. The responsible authority In Baden-Württemberg is the Agricultural Technology Centre Augustenberg. This special permission is only granted to the specific applicant and only for the designated area.

Info Box

Multiple Residues

When more than one pesticidal substance is detected on or in an item of food, this is referred to as multiple residues. There are several conceivable causes for the occurrence of multiple residues. Besides the application of different substances during the growth phase to combat different harmful organisms, they can also result from the use of preparations that contain a combination of substances, or from the intentional change of a substance to prevent the development of resistance. Foods can also be treated with substances during storage and/or transport, and they can become contaminated by residues remaining on the transport containers or conveyor belt. Small amounts of substance residues can stem from the after-effects of previous applications or from the drifting of plant protection measures conducted in neighboring fields. Moreover, some samples are comprised of foods coming from different producers who may have used a variety of substances. Finally, it can’t be ruled out that the code of good agricultural practice is not always sufficiently carried out in terms of using pesticides.

 

Source: BVL [1]

 

Organically Produced Berries

Between January and August 2016 a total of 14 organic berry samples were analyzed for the presence of pesticide residues. These included seven strawberries (5x Germany, 1x Italy, 1x Spain), four blueberries from Spain, two blackberries from Germany and one currant, also from Germany. Ten samples (71 %) were residue free. Residues of phosphonic acid in amounts between 0.046 and 15.6 mg/kg were detected in four samples: three blueberries from Spain and one strawberry from Germany. Phosphonic acid is a fungicide that was permitted for use as a plant strengthener in organic cultivation in the EU until 30 Sept., 2013 (see Info Box).

 

Info Box

Phosphonic Acid and Fosetyl

Both phosphonic acid and fosetyl are active fungicidal substances that are authorized for use in the EU in accordance with Regulation (EC) 369/2013 [5]). They are included, independent of pathway, in the applications section of Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005.


Phosphonic acid, or potassium salt, was authorized for use as a plant strengthener in organic cultivation until 30 Sept., 2013.


In addition to its use as a fungicide, it is conceivable that phosphonic acid could also be used as a leaf fertilizer. Further authorization of such fertilizers is currently being examined at the European level, due to the unequivocal fungicidal effect of phosphonic acid.

 

Furthermore, it is assumed that, after treatment, phosphonates or phosphonic acids accumulate in the wood of perennial plants and that, over time, are excreted via the fruit and probably the roots. High levels of residual phosphonic acid could therefore result from a previous, long-lasting, yet authorized, application.

 

Summary and Evaluation

The results of these residue analyses show that, also in this year, a high percentage of conventionally produced berries not only contained pesticide residues (97 %), but also multiple residues (93 %). The percentage of samples with amounts above the legal MRL (excluding chlorate) was 7.0 % (11 samples), comparatively higher than in 2015 (3.4 %). The positive aspect for the consumer is that all of the detected residue amounts lay below the toxicologically determined reference value [2], and were therefore deemed not harmful to one’s health.

 

For detailed presentation of results see pdf file:

Direct link to pdf file

 

References

[1]    Hintergrundinformation: Mehrfachrückstände von Pflanzenschutzmitteln in und auf Lebensmitteln,

[2]    Grenzwerte für die gesundheitliche Bewertung von Pflanzenschutzmittelrückständen Information Nr. 022/2009 des BfR vom 10. Juni 2009,

[3]    BVL Zulassungsdatenbank

[4]     VO (EG) 396/2005: Verordnung (EG) Nr. 396/2005 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 23. Februar 2005 über Höchstgehalte an Pestizidrückständen in oder auf Lebens- und Futtermitteln pflanzlichen und tierischen Ursprungs und zur Änderung der Richtlinie 91/414/EWG des Rates (ABl. L 70/1), zuletzt geändert durch die Verordnung (EU) Nr. 991/2014 vom 19. September 2014 (ABl. L 279/1)
[5]     VO (EU) 369/2013: Durchführungsverordnung (EU) Nr. 369/2013 der Kommission vom 22. April 2013 zur Genehmigung des Wirkstoffs Kaliumphosphonat gemäß der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1107/2009 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates über das Inverkehrbringen von Pflanzenschutzmitteln und zur Änderung des Anhangs der Durchführungsverordnung (EU) Nr. 540/2011 der Kommission (ABl. L 111/39)
[6]    VO (EG) 889/2008: Verordnung (EG) Nr. 889/2008 der Kommission vom 5. September 2008 mit Durchführungsvorschriften zur Verordnung (EG) Nr. 834/2007 des Rates über die ökologische/biologische Produktion und die Kennzeichnung von ökologischen/biologischen Erzeugnissen hinsichtlich der ökologischen/biologischen Produktion, Kennzeichnung und Kontrolle (ABl. L 250/1 vom 18.09.2008)

 

Translator

Catherine Leiblein.

 

Artikel erstmals erschienen am 23.11.2016