Pesticides and Metals in Grain Products and Ready-to-Eat Meals - April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017

Food chemistry - Targeted surveys – Final report

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Summary

Targeted surveys provide information on potential food hazards and enhance the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA's) routine monitoring programs. These surveys provide evidence regarding the safety of the food supply, identify potential emerging hazards, and contribute new information and data to food categories where it may be limited or non-existent. They are often used by the Agency to focus surveillance on potential areas of higher risk. Surveys can also help to identify trends and provide information about how industry complies with Canadian regulations.

Grain-based and vegetable-based products are staple foods consumed in Canada^{Footnote 1, Footnote 2}. These are products of agricultural commodities and may contain pesticide residues introduced from the environment or if the crops were treated with pesticides in the field, during transport and/or during storage to prevent damage from insects, moulds or other pests. These products may also contain levels of metals from environmental sources. Though metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury are not permitted to be added to foods, and manufacturers are responsible for measures aimed at reducing accidental introduction of these elements in foods (for example, from lead solder in steel equipment), their presence is expected in foods, at very low levels, primarily as a result of their natural presence in the environment.

The main objectives of this targeted survey were to generate additional baseline surveillance data on the level of pesticide residues and metal levels in selected grain-based foods and read-to-eat (RTE) meals available on the Canadian market.

A total of 3998 samples of grain-based products, and RTE meals such as pizza, soup and complete toddler meals, were collected and tested for pesticides and metals. Residues of 127 different pesticides were detected in 1189 (30%) of the samples. The overall compliance rate for pesticides in grain and RTE meals tested was 99.6%. All of the non-compliant results were associated with pesticide residues exceeding the general MRL of 0.1 ppm (mg/kg). Health Canada (HC) determined the levels of pesticides observed in the current survey are not expected to pose a concern to human health, therefore there were no recalls resulting from this survey. The CFIA conducted appropriate follow up activities to improve compliance which included further testing of similar products in subsequent years.

All samples collected were subjected to a multi-metal laboratory method that analyzes for 20 metals. Only the data for metals of highest concern to human health at low levels of exposure, most notably: arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, are presented in this report. Corn products were associated with lowest prevalence and the lowest observed levels of the metals. As expected based on the types of ingredients and the results of previous studies, detection rates were highest for products with multiple ingredients such as RTE meals.

There are no regulations in Canada for metal levels in the products tested. All data generated were forwarded to HC for human risk assessment and determined to pose no concern to human health.

The detection rates for pesticides in all commodity types collected were similar to those reported by other jurisdictions such as the United States, the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, and Australia. In general, the detection rate and highest observed levels for arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury were comparable those reported by the United States, the EU and Australia. This means that Canadian consumers' exposure to pesticides and metals from these foods is lower than or similar to the exposure of consumers in other jurisdictions.

What are targeted surveys

Targeted surveys are used by the CFIA to focus its surveillance activities on areas of highest health risk. The information gained from these surveys provides support for the allocation and prioritization of the Agency's activities to areas of greater concern. Originally started as a project under the Food Safety Action Plan (FSAP), targeted surveys have been embedded in our regular surveillance activities since 2013. Targeted surveys are a valuable tool for generating information on certain hazards in foods, identifying and characterizing new and emerging hazards, informing trend analysis, prompting and refining health risk assessments, highlighting potential contamination issues, as well as assessing and promoting compliance with Canadian regulations.

Food safety is a shared responsibility. We work with federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments and provide regulatory oversight of the food industry to promote safe handling of foods throughout the food production chain. The food industry and retail sectors in Canada are responsible for the food they produce and sell, while individual consumers are responsible for the safe handling of the food they have in their possession.

Why did we conduct this survey

Chemical hazards in foods can come from a variety of sources. Pesticides may be present as contaminants in the environment or they may be deliberately used by farmers to protect food and crops from pests. Different pest pressures and climatic conditions in food export countries may result in the potential use of pesticides that are not approved for use in Canada, or result in pesticide residues in products that do not meet established Canadian maximum residue limits (MRLs) to be legally sold in Canada^Footnote 3.

Inappropriate use of pesticides may pose a health risk to consumers, with the risk dependant on the type of pesticide, its concentration, the interaction with the human body, and the length of exposure to the pesticide by the consumer.

Metals are naturally-occurring elements that may be present in very low amounts in rock, water, soil, or air. Therefore, finding these substances in food products is not unexpected as trace levels generally reflect normal accumulation from the environment. They may be present in finished foods due to their presence in the ingredients used to manufacture those foods, and/or may be unintentionally incorporated along the food production chain.

There are a number of metals that may be of concern to human health at certain levels of exposure. Most notably, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury have been shown to have effects on human health, even at low levels of exposure. The results of only these metals of highest concern are presented in this report.

Grain and vegetable-based foods are products of agricultural commodities and may contain pesticide residues introduced from the environment or if the crops were treated with pesticides in the field. The objective of this targeted survey was to obtain additional baseline data on the levels of pesticides, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in these types of products available on the Canadian market, and to compare the prevalence of pesticides in foods with previous targeted surveys.

What did we sample

A variety of domestic and imported grain products and RTE meals were sampled between August 1, 2016 and March 21, 2017. Samples of products were collected from local/regional retail locations located in 6 major cities across Canada. These cities encompassed 4 Canadian geographical areas: Atlantic (Halifax), Quebec (Montreal), Ontario (Toronto, Ottawa) and the West (Vancouver, and Calgary). The number of samples collected from these cities was in proportion to the relative population of the respective areas. The shelf life, storage conditions, and the cost of the food on the open market were not considered in this survey.

Table 1. Distribution of samples based on product type and origin

Product type	Number of domestic samples	Number of imported samples	Number of samples of unspecified Table Note a origin	Total number of samples
Corn products	44	363	168	575
Oat products	109	64	175	348
Other/mixed grain products	141	236	273	650
RTE meals	660	935	405	2000
Wheat products	148	81	196	425
Grand total	1102	1679	1217	3998

Table Notes

Table Note a

Unspecified refers to those samples for which the country of origin could not be assigned from the product label or available sample information

Return to table note a  referrer

How were samples analyzed and assessed

Samples were analyzed by an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited food testing laboratory under contract with the Government of Canada. See Appendix A for a list of the pesticides included in the PESTICIDE-GCLC multi-residue pesticide method. Glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA were also tested for in this survey. The results are based on the food products as sold and not necessarily as they would be consumed.

Pesticide MRLs are established by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of HC and appear in their MRL database^Footnote 3. Pesticide MRLs apply to the specified raw agricultural commodity as well as to any processed food product that contains the commodity unless otherwise specified. According to section B.15.002 (1) of the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR), in the absence of a specific MRL, residues of a pesticide or other agricultural chemical must not exceed the general MRL of 0.1 ppm.

Contaminants and other adulterating substances in foods have regulatory maximum levels that are established by HC. In the absence of a specific maximum level, they assess the levels of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead on a case-by-case basis using the most current scientific data available.

What were the survey results

Pesticides

A total of 3998 samples of domestic and imported grain products and RTE meals were tested for over 480 pesticides in this targeted survey. Pesticide residues were not detected in 2809 (70%) samples. In the remaining 1189 samples, residues of 127 different pesticides were detected. A summary of the pesticide results by each product type can be seen in Table 2.

The percentage of samples with pesticide residues detected ranged from 0.3% in oat products to 53% in RTE meals. Difenoconazole and chlorpropham were the most frequently detected pesticides. The overall compliance rate for pesticides in grain products and RTE meals tested was 99.6%. There were 14 non-compliant results associated with 9 popcorn samples and 8 with other product types. All of the non-compliant results were associated with pesticide residues exceeding the general MRL of 0.1 ppm. The average amount of residue detected in these non-compliant samples was 0.44 ppm.

HC determined the levels of pesticides in grain and RTE meals observed in the current survey were not expected to pose a concern to human health, therefore there were no recalls resulting from this survey.

Table 2. Results of pesticide testing in grain products and RTE meals

Product type	Number of samples	Number (percentage) of samples with detected pesticide residue(s)	Number of non-compliant residue result(s)/number (percentage) of non-compliant samples Table Note a
Corn products	575	31 (5%)	15/10 (1.7%)
Oat products	348	1 (0.3%)	0
Grain products (other)	650	33 (5%)	1/1 (0.1%)
RTE meals	2000	1062 (53%)	2/2 (0.1%)
Wheat products	425	62 (15%)	4/4 (0.9%)
Grand total	3998	1189 (30%)	22/17 (0.4%)

Table Notes

Table Note a

Sample may contain 1 or more non-compliant residues. 5 samples contained 1 non-compliant pesticide each and 5 samples contained 2 non-compliant residues each.

Return to table note a  referrer

Metals

All 3998 samples collected were subjected to a multi-metal laboratory method that analyzes for 20 metals. Only the results of the metals of highest human health concern (arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury) are presented in this report. Most of the survey samples (89%) contained one or more of these four metals, while only 13% of the samples contained traces of all 4 metals.

Table 3. Detected levels of metals in grain products and RTE meals

Product type	Number of samples	% pos for arsenic	Average level (range) of arsenic (ppm)	% pos for cadmium	Average level (range) of cadmium (ppm)	% pos for lead	Average level (range) of lead (ppm)	% pos for mercury	Average level (range) of mercury (ppm)
Corn products	575	7	0.0025 (<LOD-0.077)	7	0.0010 (<LOD-0.036)	2	0.0005 (<LOD-0.039)	33	0.00006 (<LOD-0.0021)
Oat products	348	24	0.0081 (<LOD-0.101)	77	0.015 (<LOD-0.077)	2	0.0016 (<LOD-0.251)	46	0.00008 (<LOD-0.0006)
Grain products (other)	650	12	0.0059 (<LOD-0.313)	88	0.033 (<LOD-0.188)	8	0.0020 (<LOD-0.047)	55	0.00012 (<LOD-0.0016)
RTE meals	2000	54	0.0067 (<LOD-0.808)	96	0.0095 (<LOD-0.337)	92	0.0042 (<LOD-0.082)	38	0.00014 (<LOD-0.024)
Wheat products	425	24	0.0084 (<LOD-0.182)	98	0.054 (<LOD-0.319)	7	0.0038(<LOD-0.54)	37	0.0006 (<LOD-0.0006)

<LOD = Below the limit of detection (0.0001 - 0.01 ppm, depending on the laboratory and the analyte)
Note: Average values were calculated using only results for samples with quantifiable metal levels

Table 3 illustrates the level of these metals found in the products tested. The average levels and detection rates were similar for most products tested. Lead and cadmium had the lowest and the highest overall prevalence, respectively. Corn products were associated with the lowest prevalence and the lowest observed levels of the metals, while wheat products and RTE meals containing fish and seafood (due to bioaccumulation of metals) were often found to contain the highest detected levels of these metals. As expected, detection rates were highest for products with multiple ingredients such as RTE meals. There are no regulations in Canada for the levels of these metals in the products tested. HC determined that none of the products posed a health risk to consumers.

What do the survey results mean

In comparison to previous survey years, the detection rates for pesticides in all commodity types collected were consistent (Table 4). A slight increase in the detection and non-compliance rates for products in the 2015 to 2016 survey can be attributed to increase in the method sensitivity and a larger number of analytes. Some differences observed may also be due to the sample size and the specific type of product tested.

The detection rates and the levels of metals reported in this targeted survey were very close to those previously found in similar product types, namely corn, wheat, oat and other grain products^{Footnote 4, Footnote 5, Footnote 6, Footnote 7}.

Comparisons to other jurisdictions

Pesticides. The detection rates for pesticides in all commodity types collected were similar to those reported by other jurisdictions such as the United States^{Footnote 8, Footnote 9}, the European Union^{Footnote 10, Footnote 11}, the United Kingdom^Footnote 12, and Australia^Footnote 13, (see Appendix B for more details). This means that Canadian consumers' exposure to pesticides from these foods is lower than or similar to the exposure of consumers in other jurisdictions.

Metals. Average levels reported in this study and in other countries are not easily comparable as it might not be clear how averages were calculated. For this survey, all non-detects are excluded from the calculation of averages. Some jurisdictions may set the non-detects at the Limit of detection (LOD), at one-half the LOD or may include them as zeroes. For this reason, only detection rates and highest observed levels will be compared.

In general, the detection rate and highest observed levels for arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury were comparable those reported by the United States^Footnote 14, the European Union (EU)^{Footnote 15, Footnote 16, Footnote 17, Footnote 18, Footnote 19} and Australia^Footnote 13. This suggests that, in general, the Canadian consumers' exposure to these metals is comparable to or lower than those of other jurisdictions. For further details, consult Appendix C, Appendix D, Appendix E and Appendix F for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, respectively.

Appendix A: List of analytes (483) included in the PESTICIDE-GCLC multi-residue pesticide program used by the accredited laboratory in this survey

• 3-hydroxyCarbofuran

A

• Acephate
• Acetamiprid
• Acetochlor
• Acibenzolar-s-methyl
• Aclonifen
• Alachlor
• Alanycarb
• Aldicarb
• Aldicarb Sulfone
• Aldicarb sulfoxide
• Aldrin
• Allidochlor
• Ametryn
• Aminocarb
• Anilofos
• Aramite
• Aspon
• Atrazine
• Azaconazole
• Azinphos-ethyl
• Azinphos-methyl
• Azoxystrobin

B

• Benalaxyl
• Bendiocarb
• Benfluralin
• Benfuracarb
• Benodanil
• Benomyl
• Benoxacor
• Benzoximate
• Benzoylprop-ethyl
• BHC Alpha
• BHC beta
• Bifenazate
• Bifenox
• Bifenthrin
• Biphenyl
• Bitertanol
• Boscalid
• Bromacil
• Bromophos
• Bromophos-ethyl
• Bromopropylate
• Bromuconazole
• Bupirimate
• Buprofezin
• Butachlor
• Butafenacil
• Butocarboxim
• Butocarboxim sulfoxide
• Butoxycarboxim
• Butralin
• Butylate

C

• Cadusafos
• Captafol
• Captan
• Carbaryl
• Carbendazim
• Carbetamide
• Carbofenthion
• Carbofuran
• Carbosulfan
• Carboxin
• Carfentrazone-ethyl
• Chlorantraniliprole
• Chlorbenside
• Chlorbromuron
• Chlorbufam
• Chlordane cis
• Chlordane trans
• Chlordimeform
• Chlorfenson
• Chlorfenvinphos (e+z)
• Chlorfluazuron
• Chlorflurenol-methyl
• Chloridazon
• Chlorimuron-ethyl
• Chlormephos
• Chlorobenzilate
• Chloroneb
• Chloropropylate
• Chlorothalonil
• Chloroxuron
• Chlorpropham
• Chlorpyrifos
• Chlorpyrifos-methyl
• Chlorthiamid
• Chlorthion
• Chlorthiophos
• Chlortoluron
• Chlozolinate
• Clethodim
• Clodinafop-propargyl
• Clofentezine
• Clomazone
• Cloquintocet-mexyl
• Clothianidin
• Coumaphos
• Crotoxyphos
• Crufomate
• Cyanazine
• Cyanofenphos
• Cyanophos
• Cyazofamid
• Cycloate
• Cycloxydim
• Cycluron
• Cyfluthrin (I,II,III,IV)
• Cyhalothrin-lambda
• Cymoxanil
• Cypermethrin
• Cyprazine
• Cyproconazole
• Cyprodinil
• Cyromazine

D

• Dacthal (chlorthal-dimethyl)
• delta-HCH (delta-lindane)
• Deltamethrin
• delta-trans-allethrin
• Demeton-O
• Demeton-S
• Demeton-S-methyl
• Demeton-s-methyl sulfone
• Demeton-s-methyl sulfoxide
• Des-ethyl Atrazine
• Desmedipham
• Desmetryn
• Di-allate
• Dialofos
• Diazinon
• Diazinon o analogue
• Dichlobenil
• Dichlofenthion
• Dichlofluanid
• Dichloran
• Dichlormid
• Dichlorvos
• Diclobutrazole
• Diclocymet
• Diclofop-methyl
• Dicofol
• Dicrotophos
• Dieldrin
• Diethatyl-ethyl
• Diethofencarb
• Difenoconazole
• Diflubenzuron
• Dimethachlor
• Dimethametryn
• Dimethenamid
• Dimethoate
• Dimethomorph
• Dimoxystrobin
• Diniconazole
• Dinitramine
• Dinotefuran
• Dioxacarb
• Dioxathion
• Diphenamid
• Diphenylamine
• Dipropetryn
• Disulfoton
• Disulfoton sulfone
• Diuron
• Dodemorph

E

• Edifenphos
• Emamectin B1a
• Emamectin B1b
• Endosulfan alpha
• Endosulfan beta
• Endosulfan sulfate
• Endrin
• EPN
• Epoxiconazole
• EPTC
• Esfenvalerate
• Etaconazole
• Ethalfluralin
• Ethiofencarb
• Ethiofencarb sulfone
• Ethiofencarb sulfoxide
• Ethion
• Ethiprole
• Ethirimol
• Ethofumesate
• Ethoprop
• Ethylan
• Etofenprox
• Etoxazole
• Etridiazole
• Etrimfos

F

• Famoxadone
• Fenamidone
• Fenamiphos
• Fenamiphos sulfone
• Fenamiphos sulfoxide
• Fenarimol
• Fenazaquin
• Fenbuconazole
• Fenchlorphos (Ronnel)
• Fenfuram
• Fenhexamid
• Fenitrothion
• Fenobucarb
• Fenoxanil
• Fenoxycarb
• Fenpropathrin
• Fenpropidin
• Fenpropimorph
• Fenpyroximate
• Fenson
• Fensulfothion
• Fenthion
• Fentrazamide
• Fenuron
• Fenvalerate
• Fipronil
• Flamprop-isopropyl
• Flamprop-methyl
• Flonicamid
• Fluazifop-butyl
• Flubendiamide
• Flucarbazone-sodium
• Fluchloralin
• Flucythrinate
• Fludioxonil
• Flufenacet
• Flufenoxuron
• Flumetralin
• Fluometuron
• Fluorochloridone
• Fluorodifen
• Fluoxastrobin
• Fluquinconazole
• Flusilazole
• Flutolanil
• Flutriafol
• Fluvalinate
• Folpet
• Fonofos
• Forchlorfenuron
• Formetanate
• Fosthiazate
• Fuberidazole
• Furalaxyl
• Furathiocarb

G

• Griseofulvin

H

• Halofenozide
• Haloxyfop
• Heptachlor
• Heptachlor epoxide endo
• Heptenophos
• Hexachlorobenzene
• Hexaconazole
• Hexaflumuron
• Hexazinone
• Hexythiazox
• Hydramethylnon

I

• Imazalil
• Imazamethabenz-methyl
• Imidacloprid
• Indoxacarb
• Iodofenphos
• Ipconazole
• Iprobenfos
• Iprodione
• Iprovalicarb
• Isazophos
• Isocarbamide
• Isofenphos
• Isoprocarb
• Isopropalin
• Isoprothiolane
• Isoproturon
• Isoxathion

K

• Kresoxim-methyl

L

• Leptophos
• Lindane (gamma-BHC)
• Linuron
• Lufenuron

M

• Malaoxon
• Malathion
• Mandipropamid
• Mecarbam
• Mefenacet
• Mepanipyrim
• Mephosfolan
• Mepronil
• Metaflumizone
• Metalaxyl
• Metazachlor
• Metconazole
• Methabenzthiazuron
• Methamidophos
• Methidathion
• Methiocarb
• Methiocarb sulfone
• Methiocarb Sulfoxide
• Methomyl
• Methoprotryne
• Methoxychlor
• Methoxyfenozide
• Methyl - trithion
• Metobromuron
• Metolachlor
• Metolcarb
• Metoxuron
• Metribuzin
• Mevinphos-cis
• Mexacarbate
• Mirex
• Molinate
• Monocrotophos
• Monolinuron
• Myclobutanil

N

• Naled
• Napropamide
• Naptalam
• Neburon
• Nitenpyram
• Nitralin
• Nitrapyrin
• Nitrofen
• Nitrothal-isopropyl
• Norflurazon
• Novaluron
• Nuarimol

O

• o,p'-DDD (o,p'-TDE)
• o,p'-DDE
• o,p'-DDT
• Octhilinone
• Ofurace
• Omethoate
• Ortho-phenylphenol
• Oxadiazon
• Oxadixyl
• Oxamyl
• Oxamyl-oxime
• Oxycarboxin
• Oxychlordane
• Oxyfluorfen

P

• p,p'-DDD (p,p'-TDE)
• p,p'-DDE
• p,p'-DDT
• Paclobutrazol
• Paraoxon
• Parathion
• Parathion-methyl
• Pebulate
• Penconazole
• Pencycuron
• Pendimethalin
• Penoxsulam
• Permethrin (Total)
• Phenmedipham
• Phenthoate
• Phorate
• Phorate sulfone
• Phosalone
• Phosmet
• Phosphamidon
• Picolinafen
• Picoxystrobin
• Piperonyl butoxide
• Piperophos
• Pirimicarb
• Pirimiphos-ethyl
• Pirimiphos-methyl
• Pretilachlor
• Primisulfuron-methyl
• Prochloraz
• Procymidone
• Prodiamine
• Profenofos
• Profluralin
• Promecarb
• Prometon
• Prometryne
• Pronamide
• Propachlor
• Propamocarb
• Propanil
• Propargite
• Propazine
• Propetamphos
• Propham
• Propiconazole
• Propoxur
• Prothioconazole
• Prothiophos
• Pymetrozine
• Pyracarbolid
• Pyraclostrobin
• Pyraflufen-ethyl
• Pyrazophos
• Pyridaben
• Pyridalyl
• Pyridaphenthion
• Pyridate
• Pyrifenox
• Pyrimethanil
• Pyriproxyfen
• Pyroxsulam

Q

• Quinalphos
• Quinomethionate
• Quinoxyfen
• Quintozene
• Quizalofop
• Quizalofop-ethyl

S

• Schradan
• Secbumeton
• Siduron
• Simazine
• Simetryn
• Spinetoram
• Spinosyn A
• Spinosyn D
• Spirodiclofen
• Spiromesifen
• Spirotetramat
• Spiroxamine
• Sulfallate
• Sulfentrazone
• Sulfotep
• Sulprophos

T

• TCMTB
• Tebuconazole
• Tebufenozide
• Tebufenpyrad
• Tebupirimfos
• Tebuthiuron
• Tecnazene
• Teflubenzuron
• Temephos
• Tepraloxydim
• Terbacil
• Terbufos
• Terbumeton
• Terbutryne
• Terbutylazine
• Tetrachlorvinphos
• Tetraconazole
• Tetradifon
• Tetraiodoethylene
• Tetramethrin
• Tetrasul
• Thiabendazole
• Thiacloprid
• Thiamethoxam
• Thiazopyr
• Thidiazuron
• Thiobencarb
• Thiodicarb
• Thiofanox
• Thiofanox sulfone
• Thiofanox sulfoxide
• Thiophanate-methyl
• Tolclofos-methyl
• Tolfenpyrad
• Tolyfluanid
• Tralkoxydim
• Triadimefon
• Triadimenol
• Tri-allate
• Triazophos
• Tribufos
• Trichlorfon
• Tricyclazole
• Trietazine
• Trifloxystrobin
• Trifloxysulfuron
• Triflumizole
• Triflumuron
• Trifluralin
• Triforine
• Trimethacarb
• Triticonazole

V

• Vamidothion
• Vernolate
• Vinclozolin

Z

• Zinophos
• Zoxamide

Appendix B

Appendix C

Appendix D

Appendix E

Appendix F