Pesticide residues exceed limits in 3.1% of fruit and vegetable samples

The government has told the Lok Sabha that 3.1% of fruit and vegetable samples tested between 2023 and 2026 had pesticide residues above the maximum limits set by the FSSAI. Of the 70,652 samples collected under the MPRNL project, 2,223 exceeded the Maximum Residue Limit.

Telangana recorded the highest violation rate at 5.9%, with 486 of 8,198 samples failing, the Times of India reported. Karnataka and Maharashtra followed with 3.6% and 4.9% respectively. States like Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh had zero violations. The government has extended the MPRNL project till 2028-29 and 21 states have formed committees to monitor pesticide use and promote good agricultural practices.