For example, a pesticide used on peaches can potentially be deemed 'unsafe' because assumptions are made that the grower is using the very highest level of pesticide possible, the pesticide residues on fruit are the highest allowed, and the consumer eats several peaches each day for 25 years. The bottom line for consumers is that it is important to include plenty of fruits and vegetables in daily diets. Whether your fruits and greens are home-grown or imported is immaterial. The consensus among toxicologists is that conventionally produced fruits and vegetables contain virtually no health risks. FDA's sampling and testing methods for imported produce are slack.
Regulators only test a small fraction of a percent of all imported produce.
Most of the produce the FDA tests is imported. In addition to the FDA, the states and the USDA also have inspection programs for testing imported produce. More than half of all the food the FDA tests for pesticides is imported, even though imports make up about 10 percent of the U.S. food market. Furthermore, monitoring and testing is heavily targeted. The FDA determines at the port of entry which shipments to sample based on a combination of random testing and information about the shipment, including where it comes from and if there is any history of past violations.