Food And Feed Safety Considerations In Agricultural Chemical Application

	ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SERIES ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Agriculture & Natural Resources
EXTENSION ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AUBURN UNIVERSITY, AL 36849-5647

Food And Feed Safety Considerations In
Agricultural Chemical Application

ANR-741, 1992. By Benjy Mikel, Extension Food Scientist, Auburn University

There are many things to be considered when applying chemicals to food, feed-producing plants, or their products. If unsure about whether or not to apply chemicals or what type of chemical to use, consult authorities, such as County Agents or Extension Specialists.
    Each chemical is approved for use on a certain crop or group of crops. Although it may not be harmful to use a particular chemical on a crop it is not approved for, it is against the law. If misuse of a chemical is discovered, the crop can be seized and destroyed.
    Government agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the State Departments of Agriculture, are responsible for detecting illegal chemical residues in food and animal feed products. Not only do they monitor products for wrongfully used chemicals, but also for illegal amounts of approved chemicals. Each chemical has a maximum allowable limit (tolerance level) for each crop for which it is approved. Extensive studies are conducted to determine safe tolerance levels for chemicals.
    The responsibility of proving that a chemical is safe lies on the shoulders of the chemical manufacturer and costs millions of dollars. However, government agencies, such as the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), review all chemicals to assure us that these chemicals are indeed safe. Any chemical found to be unsafe is prohibited for use in the production of food and feed products.
    A 1989 survey (last year available ) of food products by the FDA found that no violative residues were found in 99 percent of all domestic samples of food. In addition, no residues were detected at all in 66 percent of the samples. Imported products were found free of violative residues in 96.5 percent of the samples. This out of almost 19,000 samples taken.
    In addition to the surveillance samples taken, FDA conducts a Total Diet Study which estimates the human dietary intake of residues on an as eaten basis. This means how much chemicals we each consume on the average after the food has been cooked. These levels of ADI are set for different age groups due to children and the elderly being more sensitive to chemicals. The results of the 1989 Total Diet Study indicate that pesticide residue intake of all groups is well below the standards established.
    When used, illegal amounts of chemicals can be traced easily in food products. However, studies show that our domestic and imported food products are safe. So eat up and enjoy our safe, abundant food supply.

For more information, call your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find the number.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.

Community Resource Development homepage | CRD Publications