Pesticides and Metals in Selected Foods - April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019

Grain, nut/seed and vegetable-based products are staple foods consumed in Canada. These are products of agricultural commodities and may contain pesticide residues introduced from the environment or if the crops were treated with pesticides in the field, during transport and/or during storage to prevent damage from insects, moulds or other pests. These products may also contain levels of metals from environmental sources. Though metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury are not permitted to be added to foods, and manufacturers are responsible for measures aimed at reducing accidental introduction of these elements in foods (e.g., from lead solder in steel equipment), their presence is expected in foods, at very low levels, primarily as a result of their natural presence in the environment.

A total of 3348 samples of grain, nut/seed and vegetable-based products were collected and tested for pesticides and metals. Residues of 5 different pesticides were detected in 1327 (40%) of the samples. The overall compliance rate for pesticides in products tested was 99.3%.

Only the data for metals of highest concern to human health at low levels of exposure are presented in this report, most notably: arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Lead and cadmium had the lowest and the highest overall detection rate, respectively. All data generated were forwarded to HC for human risk assessment and determined to pose no concern to human health.