USDA has released the 2020 Pesticide Data Program (PDP) Annual Summary. The summary shows that more than 99% of the samples tested had pesticide residues below benchmark levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The 2020 report was released by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), and marks the 30th year of PDP results. Over these 30 years, USDA has tested 126 commodities, of which include fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry, grains, fish, rice, specialty products and water. PDP monitoring results from more than 310,000 samples can be found on the Pesticide Data Program website.
Year after year, USDA and EPA work together to identify foods to be tested by PDP on a rotating basis. In 2020, 9,600 samples of 18 fresh and processed fruit and vegetable commodities were tested. The Agricultural Marketing Service partners with cooperating state agencies to collect and analyze pesticide residue levels in selected food commodities.
USDA analyzes a wide variety of domestic and imported foods. EPA relies on PDP data to conduct food risk assessments and to ensure that pesticide residues in food are maintained at or below EPA-established levels. The data also provide regulators, farmers, processors, manufacturers, consumers and scientists with important information on the actual levels of pesticide residues found in the most commonly consumed foods.
Annual pesticide residue results are reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and EPA in monthly reports as testing is conducted throughout the year. FDA and EPA are notified immediately if a Pesticide Data Program test uncovers residue levels that pose a public safety concern.
