Pesticide Data Program 2017 Honey Data Overview 

Pesticide Data Program (PDP) State samplers collected 315 honey samples between April and 

August 2017. Twelve to 32-ounce containers of 100-percent pure honey were collected from 

routine PDP sampling sites that included chain-store distribution centers and terminal markets. 

Approximately 68 percent of the samples were collected at proxy (retail) sites. In addition to the 

commonly available clover honey, other blossom-flavored honey (such as alfalfa, orange 

blossom, tupelo, lavender, rosemary, etc.), creamed honey, and honey with honeycombs in the 

jar were randomly collected when available. Imitation honey (made from rice or corn syrup), 

solid comb honey, and honey with added flavors were not included in the collection scheme. 

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Science Laboratory (NSL) in Gastonia, NC, 

tested honey samples for 199 parent pesticides, metabolites, degradates, and/or isomers. The 

analytes of interest were extracted from the samples using a variation of the QuEChERS1 method 

followed by a cleanup to remove some matrix components and filtration to remove particulates. 

Separate aliquots of extract were then analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and/or liquid 

chromatography (LC) techniques utilizing tandem mass selective detection systems (MS/MS). 

The data table presented on the following 5 pages shows residue detections for all compounds 

tested in honey, including range of values detected, range of Limits of Detection (LODs), and U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tolerance references for each pair. The EPA tolerances 

cited in these data apply to 2017 and not the current year. There may be instances where tolerances 

may have been recently set or revoked that would have an effect on whether a residue is violative 

or not. PDP also reports tolerance violations to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as 

part of an interagency Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture and FDA. 

                                                            

1 M. Anastassiades, S.J. Lehotay, D. Stajnbaher and F.J. Schenck, “Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe 

(QuEChERS) Method”, J AOAC Int 86 (2003) 412.
Pesticide

Pest. 

Type

Number 

of 

Samples

Samples 

with 

Detections

% of 

Samples 

with 

Detects

Range of 

Values 

Detected, ppm

Range of LODs, 

ppm

EPA 

Tolerance 

Level, ppm

1-Naphthol IM 315 0.2 ^ NT

2,4-dimethylphenyl formamide (2,4-DMPF) I 315 238 75.6 0.003 - 0.082 0.003 ^ 0.2

2,6-dichlorobenzamide HM 315 2 0.6 0.02 - 0.074 0.008 ^ NT

3-Hydroxycarbofuran IM 315 0.005 ^ NT

4-Hydroxychlorothalonil FM 315 0.005 ^ NT

Acephate I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Acetamiprid I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Acetochlor H 315 0.2 ^ NT

Acrinathrin I 315 0.2 ^ NT

Alachlor H 315 3 1 0.46 - 1.07 0.4 ^ NT

Aldicarb I 315 0.015 ^ NT

Aldicarb sulfone IM 315 0.003 ^ NT

Aldicarb sulfoxide IM 315 0.008 ^ NT

Ametoctradin F 315 0.003 ^ NT

Atrazine H 315 0.008 ^ NT

Avermectin I 315 0.1 ^ NT

Azinphos methyl I 315 0.5 ^ NT

Azoxystrobin F 315 0.003 ^ NT

Bensulide H 315 0.008 ^ NT

Bentazon H 315 0.06 ^ NT

Bifenazate A 254 0.007 ^ NT

Bifenthrin I 315 0.02 ^ NT

Boscalid F 315 0.01 ^ NT

Bromacil H 315 0.02 ^ NT

Bromopropylate A 315 0.05 ^ NT

Bromuconazole F 315 0.02 ^ NT

Buprofezin I 315 0.004 ^ NT

Captan F 315 0.5 ^ NT

Carbaryl I 315 0.01 ^ NT

Carbendazim (MBC) F 315 3 1 0.005 ^ 0.005 ^ NT

Carbofuran I 315 0.003 ^ NT

Carfentrazone ethyl H 315 0.01 ^ NT

Chlorantraniliprole I 315 0.03 ^ NT

Chlorfenapyr I 315 0.5 ^ NT

Chlorfenvinphos total I 315 0.1 ^ NT

Chlorothalonil F 252 0.5 ^ NT

Chlorpropham H 315 0.03 ^ NT

Chlorpyrifos I 315 0.01 ^ NT

Chlorpyrifos methyl I 315 0.02 ^ NT

Clofentezine I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Clothianidin I 315 0.015 ^ NT

Coumaphos I 315 1 0.3 0.013 ^ 0.008 ^ 0.15

Coumaphos oxygen analog IM 315 0.001 ^ 0.15

Cyantraniliprole I 315 0.03 ^ NT

Cyazofamid F 315 0.004 ^ NT

PDP 2017 Summary of Residue Findings for HONEY

Page 1 of 5
Pesticide

Pest. 

Type

Number 

of 

Samples

Samples 

with 

Detections

% of 

Samples 

with 

Detects

Range of 

Values 

Detected, ppm

Range of LODs, 

ppm

EPA 

Tolerance 

Level, ppm

Cyflufenamid F 315 0.003 ^ NT

Cyflumetofen A 315 0.025 ^ NT

Cyfluthrin I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Cyhalothrin, Lambda I 315 0.2 ^ NT

Cymiazole A 315 0.008 ^ NT

Cymoxanil F 315 0.008 ^ NT

Cypermethrin I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Cyphenothrin I 315 2 ^ NT

Cyprodinil F 315 0.004 ^ NT

Cyromazine R 315 0.01 ^ NT

DCPA H 315 0.005 ^ NT

DDE p,p' IM 315 0.005 ^ NT

DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) X 315 0.006 ^ NT

DEF (Tribufos) H 315 0.2 ^ NT

Deltamethrin 1 I 315 0.2 ^ NT

Diazinon I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Diazinon oxygen analog IM 259 0.008 ^ NT

Dichlorvos (DDVP) I 315 0.006 ^ NT

Dicloran F 315 0.05 ^ NT

Dicofol p,p' I 315 0.5 ^ NT

Difenoconazole F 315 0.008 ^ NT

Diflubenzuron I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Dimethenamid H 315 0.01 ^ NT

Dimethoate I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Dimethomorph F 315 0.05 ^ NT

Dinotefuran I 315 0.01 ^ NT

Diphenamid H 315 0.01 ^ NT

Diphenylamine (DPA) F 315 0.005 ^ NT

Diuron H 315 0.002 ^ NT

Emamectin benzoate I 315 0.004 ^ NT

Endosulfan I IM 315 0.02 ^ NT

Endosulfan II IM 315 0.02 ^ NT

Endosulfan sulfate IM 315 0.02 ^ NT

Epoxiconazole F 315 0.004 ^ NT

Esfenvalerate+Fenvalerate Total I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Ethion I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Ethofumesate H 315 0.03 ^ NT

Etofenprox I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Etoxazole A 315 0.001 ^ NT

Famoxadone F 315 0.01 ^ NT

Fenamidone F 315 0.003 ^ NT

Fenarimol F 315 0.025 ^ NT

Fenazaquin I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Fenbuconazole F 315 0.006 ^ NT

Fenhexamid F 315 0.009 ^ NT

Fenoxaprop ethyl H 315 0.004 ^ NT

Fenpropathrin I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Page 2 of 5
Pesticide

Pest. 

Type

Number 

of 

Samples

Samples 

with 

Detections

% of 

Samples 

with 

Detects

Range of 

Values 

Detected, ppm

Range of LODs, 

ppm

EPA 

Tolerance 

Level, ppm

Fenpyroximate A 315 0.006 ^ 0.10

Fipronil I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Fipronil sulfide (MB45950) IM 315 0.01 ^ NT

Fipronil sulfone (MB46136) IM 315 0.05 ^ NT

Flonicamid I 315 0.015 ^ NT

Fludioxonil F 315 0.02 ^ NT

Fluometuron H 315 0.003 ^ NT

Fluopicolide F 315 0.006 ^ NT

Fluopyram F 315 0.002 ^ NT

Fluoxastrobin F 315 0.005 ^ NT

Flupyradifurone I 315 0.015 ^ NT

Fluridone H 315 0.002 ^ NT

Flutriafol F 315 0.02 ^ NT

Fluvalinate I 315 0.05 ^ 0.02

Fluxapyroxad F 315 0.004 ^ NT

Hexazinone H 315 0.002 ^ NT

Hexythiazox I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Imazalil F 315 0.025 ^ NT

Imidacloprid I 315 0.01 ^ NT

Indoxacarb I 315 0.015 ^ NT

Iprodione F 315 0.2 ^ NT

Kresoxim-methyl F 315 0.005 ^ NT

Linuron H 315 0.03 ^ NT

Malathion I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Mandipropamid F 315 0.004 ^ NT

Metalaxyl/Mefenoxam 2 F 315 0.003 ^ NT

Metconazole F 315 0.01 ^ NT

Methamidophos I 315 0.15 ^ NT

Methidathion I 315 0.004 ^ NT

Methomyl I 315 0.007 ^ NT

Methoprene R 315 0.01 ^ NT

Methoxyfenozide I 315 0.002 ^ NT

Metolachlor H 315 0.05 ^ NT

Metribuzin H 315 0.05 ^ NT

MGK-264 I 315 0.015 ^ NT

Momfluorothrin I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Myclobutanil F 315 0.015 ^ NT

Norflurazon H 315 0.015 ^ NT

Norflurazon desmethyl HM 315 0.01 ^ NT

Novaluron I 315 0.01 ^ NT

Omethoate IM 252 0.025 ^ NT

Oxamyl I 315 0.02 ^ NT

Oxyfluorfen H 315 0.2 ^ NT

Parathion ethyl I 315 0.1 ^ NT

Parathion methyl I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Penconazole F 315 0.004 ^ NT

Pendimethalin H 315 0.04 ^ NT

Page 3 of 5
Pesticide

Pest. 

Type

Number 

of 

Samples

Samples 

with 

Detections

% of 

Samples 

with 

Detects

Range of 

Values 

Detected, ppm

Range of LODs, 

ppm

EPA 

Tolerance 

Level, ppm

Penthiopyrad F 315 0.002 ^ NT

Permethrin Total I 315 0.2 ^ NT

Phenothrin I 315 0.2 ^ NT

Phorate I 315 0.02 ^ NT

Phosalone I 315 0.01 ^ NT

Phosmet I 315 0.2 ^ NT

Phosmet oxygen analog IM 315 0.002 ^ NT

Picoxystrobin F 315 0.006 ^ NT

Piperonyl butoxide I 315 0.025 ^ NT

Prallethrin I 315 0.5 ^ NT

Prodiamine H 315 0.02 ^ NT

Profenofos I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Prometon H 315 0.002 ^ NT

Prometryn H 315 0.008 ^ NT

Pronamide H 315 0.05 ^ NT

Propachlor H 315 0.005 ^ NT

Propamocarb hydrochloride F 315 0.005 ^ NT

Propanil H 315 0.01 ^ NT

Propargite I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Propazine H 315 0.005 ^ NT

Propetamphos I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Propiconazole F 315 0.005 ^ NT

Pymetrozine I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Pyraclostrobin F 315 0.005 ^ NT

Pyridaben I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Pyrimethanil F 315 0.01 ^ NT

Pyriproxyfen I 315 0.003 ^ NT

Quinoxyfen F 315 0.004 ^ NT

Quintozene (PCNB) F 315 0.01 ^ NT

Resmethrin cis IM 315 0.5 ^ NT

Resmethrin trans IM 315 0.5 ^ NT

Sethoxydim H 315 0.005 ^ NT

Simazine H 315 0.04 ^ NT

Spinetoram I 315 0.03 ^ NT

Spinosad I 315 0.015 ^ NT

Spirodiclofen A 315 0.008 ^ NT

Spiromesifen I 315 0.05 ^ NT

Spirotetramat I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Sulfoxaflor I 315 0.02 ^ NT

Tebuconazole F 315 0.01 ^ NT

Tebufenozide I 315 0.001 ^ NT

Tebuthiuron H 315 0.005 ^ NT

Tefluthrin I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Tetraconazole F 315 0.005 ^ NT

Tetradifon I 315 0.02 ^ NT

Tetrahydrophthalimide (THPI) FM 315 0.25 ^ NT

Tetramethrin I 315 0.2 ^ NT

Page 4 of 5
Pesticide

Pest. 

Type

Number 

of 

Samples

Samples 

with 

Detections

% of 

Samples 

with 

Detects

Range of 

Values 

Detected, ppm

Range of LODs, 

ppm

EPA 

Tolerance 

Level, ppm

Thiabendazole F 315 0.01 ^ NT

Thiacloprid I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Thiamethoxam I 315 0.005 ^ NT

Thymol F 315 43 13.7 0.007 - 0.212 0.005 ^ EX

Tolfenpyrad I 315 0.008 ^ NT

Triadimefon F 315 0.015 ^ NT

Triadimenol F 315 0.025 ^ NT

Triazophos I 315 0.003 ^ NT

Trifloxystrobin F 315 0.002 ^ NT

Triflumizole F 315 0.002 ^ NT

Trifluralin H 315 0.02 ^ NT

Triticonazole F 315 0.01 ^ NT

Vinclozolin F 315 0.05 ^ NT

NOTES

^ = Only one distinct detected concentration or LOD value was reported for the pair.

NT = No tolerance level was set for that pesticide/commodity pair.

EX = Exempt from the requirement of a tolerance in or on all food commodities.

1 = Deltamethrin includes parent Tralomethrin.

2 = Metalaxyl and mefenoxam have separate registrations. Mefenoxam is also known as Metalaxyl-M, which is one

 of the spatial isomers comprising metalaxyl. The spatial isomers of metalaxyl are analytically indistinguishable 

 via multiresidue methods.

Pesticide Types:

A = Acaricide

F = Fungicide, FM = Fungicide Metabolite

H = Herbicide, HM = Herbicide Metabolite

I = Insecticide, IM = Insecticide Metabolite

R = Insect Growth Regulator

X = Insect Repellent

Many of the listed tolerances are the sum of a parent compound and metabolite(s)/isomer(s). The reader is 

advised to refer to EPA for the complete listing of compounds in tolerance expressions. The cited tolerances apply 

to 2017 and not to the current year. There may be instances where a tolerance was recently set or revoked that 

would have an effect on whether a residue is violative or not. 

Page 5 of 5