Pesticide residues
173 samples of fresh fruits and vegetables were analysed by the laboratories. In half of the samples no pesticide residues were detectable, otherwise the detected residues were mostly within the trace range (less than 0.01 mg/kg). Only in one kiwi and one paprika did the agency find increased levels of pesticide residues and so they rated the organic claim as misleading.
On average, the pesticide residue content of all the organic fruit and vegetable samples examined was 0.001 and 0.002 mg/kg respectively. By contrast, conventional fruit on average contains 0.45 mg/kg of residues and vegetables 0.36 mg/kg In other words, conventional fruit contained 450 times more residues than organic produce, vegetables 180 times. For processed organic products, the Authority's complaint rate was higher, mainly due to residues in green tea from China and Japan and in Moringa powder.
Genetic engineering impurities
In only 3 out of 88 samples of organic soy products authorities found that genetic engineering contamination was below 0.1 percent. That was the lowest percentage so far. In the case of conventional samples, one-fifth of all products contained GM traces. In organic honey, no GMOs were detectable.
