New data on the presence of pesticide residues in food in Ireland shows 96% of samples analysed were residue free or had residue traces within legally permitted levels.
However, 4% of samples contained residues exceeding permitted levels.
The figures were published today as part of a European Food Safety Authority report on pesticide residue in foods derived from plants and animals within the EU.
1,716 samples were taken in Ireland at retail outlets, storage facilities, slaughterhouses, ports and airports by officials from the Department of Agriculture and analysed at a food chemistry lab here as well as a facility in Germany
55% of samples taken were found to be free of pesticide residue and 40% had pesticide residues within legally permitted levels, while 4% (72 samples) had levels exceeding permitted levels.
The European Food Safety Authority says the results from the monitoring programmes, which are based on 110,000 samples are a valuable source of information for estimating dietary exposure of EU consumers to pesticide residues.
Across the EU, 98% of samples were found to be residue free or with traces within permitted levels and 1.6% exceeded permitted levels.
Based on its assessment of the results, the EFSA concludes that there is a low risk to consumer health from the estimated exposure to pesticide residues in the foods tested.
The samples taken in Ireland
The 1,716 samples in Ireland were taken across the full range of plant and animal food products available to consumers here.
Many of the products are imported, but many are also produced domestically.
143 beef products that originated here were tested. Of those, 139 had no pesticide residues detected, 3 had permitted levels identified and 1 had a level of pesticide that exceeded legally permissible levels.
55 samples of Irish pork were tested and none showed any detectable residues. 21 Irish chicken samples were analysed and 20 were pesticide free, while 1 exceeded permissible levels.
90 samples of cow's milk with its origin here were also sampled, with 85 showing no residues and 5 having residue within permissible levels. 19 samples of infant formula, all from Ireland were tested and no trace of pesticide residues were found.
No samples of barley and oats taken here exceeded permissible pesticide residues levels, but of the 33 samples of rice tested, none of which originated in Ireland, 15 had permissible levels present and 12 exceeded permissible levels.
In all cases where residues are detected above the permissible limit, the EFSA says consumer risk assessments are carried out, but in the majority of detected samples in 2022 no risks were identified. Two breaches were identified as being of acute risk to children if they were consumed. These were residues found in physalis and chilli peppers.
Where residues are detected above permissible levels officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine investigate, and all breaches are subject to a dietary risk assessment by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
