Hong Kong consumer watchdog finds pesticide residue in almost half of vegetable samples – including some labelled ‘organic’
Two samples from mainland China had pesticide levels exceeding Maximum Residue Limit, while another two from mainland and the US had high levels of cadmium
Eat your vegetables, but watch out for pesticides – the Consumer Council has found pesticide residue in almost half of 127 samples of vegetables.
Two samples imported from the mainland, including one claiming to be organic, were found to have pesticide residue levels exceeding the Maximum Residue Limit, while another two samples imported from the mainland and the United States – one labelled organic – were found to contain levels of cadmium, a heavy metal, approaching or at the upper limit.
The council, which released the findings on Tuesday, said consumers should not assume that all vegetables billed as organic were pesticide-free.
There is no law in Hong Kong defining and regulating organic vegetables. The council said the government should set up related regulations on vegetable labelling.
Among the 127 samples, 75 claimed to be organic, of which 28 were found to contain pesticide residue and 12 were found to contain heavy metals.
Among the non-organic vegetable samples, 31 had pesticide residue and six had heavy metals.
One French bean sample imported from the mainland was found to contain chlorpyrifos at a level of 0.03 milligrams per kilogram, exceeding the limit of 0.01mg.