Most California produce had no detectable pesticide in 2012

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has released its 2012 pesticide residue report that shows the bulk of items tested had no detectable pesticide residues.

Of the 3,501 samples collected, 57.5% had no residues, according to the report.

An additional 38.9% of samples within the legal tolerance levels, and 2.7% had illegal residues of pesticides not approved for use on that commodity.

Less than 1% the samples had pesticide residues that exceeded established tolerances.

All told, 98% of all California-grown produce sampled by the department had pestide residues within the legal limits.

Most of the samples with illegal residues were from ohter countries and contained very low levels.

In 2012, scientists most frequently found illegal residues on yardlong beans, limes, tomatillos and chili peppers from Mexico; snow peas from Guatemala; ginger from China and the United States; and spinach from the United States, according to the report.