Sampled vegetables safe for consumption, says study

Kales, tomatoes and onions do not contain high residue levels and are safe for human consumption, a baseline study in eight counties has shown.

The study which was released on Friday was conducted in Kajiado, Nakuru, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Makueni, Meru and Taita Taveta counties.

The Pest Control Products Board, in partnership with Bureau Veritas Kenya Limited and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service examined pesticide residues in locally consumed products.

The counties sampled are known for their significant commercial horticultural production and high usage of pesticides.

The study focused on kales, tomatoes and onions, which are primary crops and are widely consumed.

The Maximum Residue Level defines the amount of pesticide residue that is legally allowed on the harvested food.

The European Commission establishes its MRLs for use within the EU, which may not always align with Codex Alimentarius.

The Codex Alimentarius is a collection of internationally recognised standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other recommendations published by the Food and Agriculture Organization relating to food production, labeling and safety.

The first survey covered Kajiado, Nakuru and Nyandarua with the objectives of establishing if pesticides used by farmers are approved by the PCPB.

It also sought to establish if the levels of pesticide active ingredients residues present in produce, are within Codex Alimentarius and EU maximum residue limits.

PCPB is a body that regulates pesticides.

Active ingredients are chemicals in a pesticide that control or repel pests.

“We had 27 samples drawn from farm gates while 36 samples were drawn from major markets. Standard Operating Procedures were followed in sampling and laboratory testing,” said PCPB manager for analytical services Grace Muchemi.

She said of the 20 kale samples tested, 98.4 per cent were compliant with Codex maximum residue levels.

“Of the 22 tomato samples tested, 95 per cent were compliant,” Muchemi said.

She said onion samples were 100 per cent compliant with the Codex and EU MRL.

The study says compliance with MRLs was higher in farm gate samples than in market samples.

This opens the possibility of contamination during transportation and marketing as well as the presence of produce from neighbouring counties.

The molecules detected during testing were all registered by PCPB for use on crops but some such as Acephate in tomatoes and Fenhexamid in kales were not for the specific crops 

The study says there is need for sampling at ports of entry to block imported produce that may be above MRLs.

It also emphasisee the need to train farmers to follow label recommendations for products to prevent uses.

The study also recommends access to affordable personal protective gear.

In the second baseline study conducted in Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Makueni, Meru, and Taita Taveta, a total of 105 samples were collected comprising 59 from farm gates and 46 from major markets.

Each sample underwent testing for 500 active ingredients of pesticides.

All kale samples (100 per cent) met Codex MRLs while 69.44 per cent met EU MRLs.

All tomato samples (100 per cent) met Codex MRLs while 41.67 per cent met EU MRLs.

Under the onions category, all onion samples (100 per cent) met Codex MRLs while 96.97 per cent met EU MRLs.

Active ingredients found in the samples were registered and approved by PCPB.

However, not all active ingredients found in the samples are registered for use in the specific produce sampled as per the PCPB list of registered products.

“The study depicts negligible traces of pesticide residues on sampled crops indicating that the food is safe for human consumption,” part of the study says.

The study says approved active ingredients in the tested crops meant  there is progress in combating illegal pest control products.

PCPB CEO Fredrick Muchiri said the findings are indicators of food safety.

“All pesticides are toxic substances but they are meant to kill pests while ensuring that we continue to live as well as ensuring the safety of our environment,” he said.

The findings are an indicator that farmers are using pesticides according to label instructions to a larger extent therefore attaining the expected residue limits.

He urged farmers to observe pre-harvest interval-the minimum amount of wait time between the last application of pesticide and when the crop is considered safe.

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