Pesticide residues in conventional, integrated pest management (IPM)-grown and organic foods: insights from three US data sets B. P. Baker A1, C. M. Benbrook A2, E. Groth III A3, K. Lutz Benbrook A4 A1 Organic Materials Review Institute, PO Box 11558. Eugene, OR 97440, USA A2 Benbrook Consulting Services, 5085 Upper Pack River Road, Sandpoint, ID 83864, USA A3 Consumers Union of United States, Inc., 101 Truman Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10703-1057, USA A4 Benbrook Consulting Services, 5085 Upper Pack River Road, Sandpoint, ID 83864, USA Abstract: An analysis of pesticide residue data was performed to describe and quantify differences between organically grown and non-organic fresh fruits and vegetables. Data on residues in foods from three different market categories (conventionally grown, integrated pest management (IPM)-grown/no detectable residues (NDR), and organically grown) were compared using data from three test programmes: The Pesticide Data Program of the US Department of Agriculture; the Marketplace Surveillance Program of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation; and private tests by the Consumers Union, an independent testing organization. Organically grown foods consistently had about one-third as many residues as conventionally grown foods, and about one-half as many residues as found in IPM/NDR samples. Conventionally grown and IPM/NDR samples were also far more likely to contain multiple pesticide residues than were organically grown samples. Comparison of specific residues on specific crops found that residue concentrations in organic samples were consistently lower than in the other two categories, across all three data sets. The IPM/NDR category, based on data from two of the test programmes, had residues higher than those in organic samples but lower than those in conventionally grown foods. J Food Additives & Contaminants Publisher: Taylor & Francis Issue: Number 5/May 01, 2002 Pages: 427 - 446 CRC Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 1977 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.