Pesticide residues in foodstuffs in Great Britain. Pesticide residues in raspberries and strawberries

Abstract Over the period 1968/70 147 samples of raspberries and 124 samples of strawberries were analysed for organochlorine insecticide residues. DDT was found in 30% of the samples but only one sample contained as much as 1.4 parts/million. No residues were detected in the raspberries during the last year of the survey which coincided with the discontinued use of DDT on this crop. 184 of the above samples were also analysed for residues of organophosphorus insecticides and the fungicide dichlofluanid. Malathion was found in one sample of raspberries. Approximately 40% of the strawberries contained detectable amounts of dichlofluanid and its metabolite with combined residues ranging from 0.1 to 7.5 parts/million. Only two samples of raspberries contained residues of either dichlofluanid or its metabolite. It is considered that the residues of these various pesticides should not present a hazard to consumers.