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The risk from pesticide residues to human health remains low, in line with previous years, EFSA said in its latest annual report. EFSA analysed thousands of samples collected in 2023 from commonly consumed products.
** Random sampling shows consistent results
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EFSA analysed the results of 13,246 random samples taken by EU Member States, Norway and Iceland from 12 of the most consumed food products in the EU as part of the EU-coordinated control programme (EU MACP).  
The EU MACP programme samples the same commodities every three years to track trends. For 2023 these were carrots, cauliflowers, kiwi fruits (green, red and yellow), onions, oranges, pears, potatoes, dried beans, brown rice, rye, bovine liver and poultry fat.
Of the 2023 samples, 70% were free of quantifiable levels of residues, while 28% contained one or more residues within legal limits. Maximum residue levels (MRLs) were exceeded in 2% of samples, of which 1% were non-compliant after taking into account the measurement uncertainty. 
Targeted sampling with high compliance rate
EFSA’s annual report on pesticide residues also includes the results from the Multiannual National Control Programme (MANCP), which gathers data from targeted sampling, based on the level of risk.
These national control programmes provided 132,793 samples, 98% of which were compliant with EU legislation. Compliance rates for the MANCP in 2021 and 2022 were 97.5% and 97.8%, respectively.
Of the 2023 samples, 58% did not contain quantifiable residues, while 38.3% contained residues within legal limits and 3.7% exceeded the MRL, of which 2% were non-compliant. 
** Dietary risk assessment
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The results from the monitoring programmes are a valuable source of information for estimating dietary exposure of EU consumers to pesticide residues.  
EFSA carried out a dietary risk assessment as part of its analysis of the results. The assessment shows the probability that consumers will be exposed to a quantity of residues above a certain safety threshold.
Based on its assessment, EFSA concludes that there is a low risk to consumer health from the estimated exposure to pesticide residues in the foods tested.  
The report also makes recommendations to increase the efficiency of European control systems for pesticide residues. For example, EFSA advises Member States to further investigate and monitor pesticide and crop combinations leading to non-compliances, and to continue monitoring pesticide residues in samples imported from outside the EU with a wide analytical scope. 
** Links to science
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Should you wash fruit even if you don’t eat the peel? Would you dare eat cricket-based hamburgers? Do you trust the food you eat? 
Keen to find out more about the science behind safe food? Then welcome to ‘Science on the menu’, a podcast produced by the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA. We are a European agency located in Parma, Italy, that assesses and communicates on food risks. Each episode will tell you more about the work done to ensure that food across the European Union is safe. Come join us at our table for Science on the menu.
For inquiries please contact:
EFSA Press
+39 0521 036 149
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