Butwal, July 23: Laboratory tests have detected excessive pesticide residues in green chillies supplied to the wholesale vegetable market at Old Bus Park in Butwal, prompting authorities to destroy the contaminated produce.
The Pesticide Residue Rapid Analysis Laboratory Unit in Butwal confirmed the finding after testing samples of vegetables and fruits collected from the wholesale market on Tuesday morning.
According to Rajiv Bhandari, Assistant Technical Officer at the laboratory, the green chillies supplied by Om Nikhilam Vegetable Shop of Kapurkot Rural Municipality, Salyan, contained 59.52 percent organophosphate pesticide residue.
Bhandari explained that vegetables containing less than 35 percent carbamate and organophosphate pesticide residues are considered safe for consumption.
“If residue levels range between 35 and 45 percent, the produce is quarantined for a few days and retested before being declared safe. However, produce containing more than 45 percent pesticide residue is considered unfit for human consumption and must be destroyed,” he said.
Along with the green chillies, the laboratory tested samples of cauliflower, cucumber, beans, aubergine, long beans, sponge gourd, carrots, tomatoes, snake beans, bitter gourd, okra, mangoes, round chillies and fresh coriander.
Officials said pesticide residue levels in all other samples were within the permissible limits. The contaminated green chillies were destroyed in coordination with Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City.
The Pesticide Residue Rapid Analysis Laboratory Unit conducts routine testing of vegetables and fruits arriving at the Butwal wholesale market every morning. However, vegetables sold outside the wholesale market are currently not subject to pesticide residue testing. #nepal
