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Research confirms safety for consumption of vegetables sold in the country

The PNCRC analyzes are carried out on samples of national and imported products - Photo: Image Bank

 

A survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Map), carried out in 2019 and 2020, and released this Friday (11/19), in the Official Gazette, shows that 89% of the samples of products of plant origin analyzed by National Plan for the Control of Residues and Contaminants in Products of Vegetal Origin (PNCRC/Vegetal) are within the level of compliance. This means that vegetables sold in Brazil are safe for consumption.

 

The results refer to the PNCRC/Vegetal, which aims to monitor and inspect the residues of pesticides and chemical and biological contaminants in national and imported products of plant origin. Since 2019, when the inspection started to fine the irregularities, the Ministry has already applied more than BRL 4 million in fines.

 

According to the survey, of the 89% of compliance pointed out in the analyses. 49% had no residues and contaminants and another 40% had values ​​below the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) established in Brazil.

 

Only 11% of the samples showed some type of non-compliance. Of this total, 10% represent non-conformities related to pesticide residues and 1% showed the presence of contaminants such as Salmonella and mycotoxins.

 

Among the products that did not comply with the use of pesticides not allowed for the crop, we have common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata).

 

According to the opinion of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), the irregularities found in beans do not present an acute risk in the consumption of these foods.

 

Reviews

In the period, the PNCRC analyzed 37 products of plant origin. In all, 2,601 samples were collected and sent for analysis by the National Network of Federal Agricultural Defense Laboratories (LFDA Network). The samples are official and collected by federal agricultural inspectors on rural properties, processing establishments and supply centers.

 

PNCRC analyzes are carried out on samples of national and imported products. During the period, 91% of national products and 9%, imported, were analyzed.

 

The Map uses control and inspection methods of Joint Normative Instruction nº 02 of 2018, which establishes the obligation of traceability by all entities in the production and commercialization chain of products of vegetal origin.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture's Plan, together with the Food Waste Analysis Program (PARA), carried out by Anvisa, form the monitoring system for pesticide residues in food in Brazil.

 

Pesticides

Of the 2,601 samples collected, 1,777 were directed to monitoring the occurrence of pesticide residues, with 1,521 compliant and 256 non-compliant samples.

 

Violations in domestic products reached 14%. Of these, 10% were pesticides not allowed for the crop - which does not necessarily mean a risk to the health of consumers - and 4% with use above the maximum residue limit - which indicates inappropriate use of the product, not following the guidelines of the package insert.

 

With information from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply

 

Category

Agriculture and Livestock