On top of that, FQPA requires that this level be divided again by 10, in most cases, to account for any rare instances in which an individual may be even more prone to pesticide risks. 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 a point that too frequently gets lost in today s political crusade against pesticides 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.
Regulators only test a small fraction of a percent of all imported produce.
The FDA has an extensive testing and monitoring program that focuses heavily on imported foods. 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 only about 10 percent of the U.S. food market. Furthermore, monitoring and testing is heavily targeted.