Pesticide residues in imported frozen fruits and vegetables (Frozen foods)

This study was conducted to compare the levels of organophosphorus pesticide residues in imported versus domestic frozen samples of soybeans, asparagus spears, broccoli florets, green beans, blackberries and blueberries. A total of 14 samples from 8 countries was collected from grocery stores in Southern California and screened for 40 organophosphorus residues. Samples were extracted by the Luke method; analyses were carried out using column gas chromatography (GC) with a flame photometric detector (FPD). Four samples contained detectable residues: methamidophos, 0.01 and 0.02 ppm; dimethoate, 0.03 ppm. and malathion, 0.01 ppm, with the first two being violative residues. The majority (71.4%) of the frozen food samples analyzed in this study had no detectable organophosphorus pesticide residues, and those detected were below the EPA tolerance levels. Results indicated that there is a difference in the levels of methamidophos and malathion in imported versus domestic frozen soybeans and blackberries, respectively.