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Food And Feed Safety Considerations In Agricultural Chemical Application
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ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
SERIES
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Agriculture & Natural Resources |
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EXTENSION ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AUBURN UNIVERSITY,
AL 36849-5647
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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.
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Resource Development homepage | CRD
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For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information.
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.
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