Summary: In January 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published the results of its 30th annual Pesticide Data Program (PDP). The PDP collects data on pesticide residues in a wide variety of foods, with a strong focus on foods that are consumed by infants and children. The report presents data on a changing market basket of foods. This year’s report includes apple juice, which was last tested in 2013, with samples taken in calendar year 2020.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) incorporates multiple safety factors in setting the legal tolerances for pesticide residues in food. If EPA determines a pesticide is not safe for human consumption, it is removed from the market.  The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for enforcing the EPA tolerances. A summary of the data is attached.

Apple Juice

  • 724 samples were tested for the presence of 168 pesticides
  • 31% of the samples tested were imported
  • Of the apple juice samples tested, 100% were well within the pesticide tolerances established by the EPA
  • No pesticide was detected that is not approved for use on apple juice.

Please note that apples and applesauce are not tested every year and the following results are from the 2018 PDP with samples taken in 2016.

Apples

  • 531 samples of apples were tested for the presence of 16 different pesticides
  • 6% of the samples tested were imported
  • Of the apple samples testing positive for a pesticide, 100% of those samples were well within the pesticide tolerances established by EPA
  • No pesticide was detected that is not approved for use on apples

Applesauce

  • 190 samples were tested for the presence of 11 different pesticides
  • 8% of the samples tested were imported
  • Of the applesauce samples testing positive for a pesticide, 100% of those samples were well within the pesticide tolerances established by EPA
  • No pesticide was detected that is not approved for use on applesauce

For additional information contact:

Chris Gerlach
Director of Industry Analytics
703.442.8850
cgerlach@usapple.org

USDA Pesticide Data Program
CY2020

USDA Pesticide Data Program
CY2016

Pesticide Graph