Cauliflower and Tomatoes Have Highest Amount of Pesticide Residue: Study

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Cauliflower and Tomatoes Have Highest Amount of Pesticide Residue: Study

July 15: Cauliflower, tomatoes and mustard green that are extensively used in the kitchen by the general people are found to have been laden with pesticides the most.

This has been revealed from tests conducted at the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market by the Central Agriculture Laboratory between April 14 to July 6.

The date obtained after the tests found that the three vegetable items had the highest amount of pesticide residue. The lab tested 2810 samples during the review period. Among the samples tested, 46 had higher amount of pesticides than the prescribed limit.

The organophosphate inhibition percentage in those samples were found to be more than 45 percent.

Seven samples each of cauliflower, tomatoes and mustard green had organophosphate inhibition percentage of more than 45 percent. According to the lab, vegetables with this much amount of pesticide residue is considered unfit for consuming.

Similarly, 29 samples had organophosphate inhibition percentage between 35 to 45 percent. Such vegetables can be consumed if the pesticide residue is found to be less after re-test done after a few days.

The report prepared by the central lab states that pesticide residue was high in vegetables brought from Chitwan, Dhading, Makwanpur, Sarlahi and India.

Samples were tested from Kalimati, Butwal, Nepalgunj, Attariya, Jhapa, Pokhara and Sarlahi. Among them, the pesticide residue were highest in samples tested from Kalimati.

A total of 22,878 samples were tested from the seven areas during the review period.

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