How maximum residue levels protect consumers

The majority of food stuffs do not contain any pesticide residues at all. But where they do, consumers are protected by Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs), which are a form of trading standard. Nearly all pesticide residues that are detected in food fall well below MRLs.

 

These are not a safety limit, but are the maximum concentration of pesticide's legally permitted on a particular food, indicating that a pesticide has been used correctly.

 

In practice, these MRLs are set well below levels that pose even a small risk to human health, providing very large safety margins.

 

How many carrots, with residues at the MRL, do you think you would have to eat before suffering any adverse effects from pesticides?

 

Watch this animation to find out.

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