how much pesticide is in our food?

Every year the Government’s Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC) tests a small proportion
of the food sold in our shops for pesticide residues.  Since 1998 around 100 different types
of pesticide residue have been found in the various fruit and vegetables tested.  The
Government sets legal limits on the levels of these pesticides that can be present in food -
the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) - see box below for more information.  In 2001, 1.5 per
cent of fruit and vegetables tested had pesticide residues that exceeded the MRLs