We know that synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are used to grow food and we also know that these fertilizers and pesticides contaminate the food that we eat. That’s why regulatory bodies in the EU and US have come up with something known as Maximum Residue Limit also known as MRL.
What is MRL?
The maximum Residual Limit (MRL) is the maximum amount of pesticide residue that is allowed to remain on a food product after it has been treated with the pesticide. This limit is set by regulatory authorities to ensure that the pesticide residue levels in food products do not pose a risk to human health.
Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to control pests and increase crop yield. However, the use of pesticides also has potential risks to human health and the environment. Pesticide residues can remain on food products, and if the levels exceed the MRL, it can lead to acute and chronic health effects such as cancer, developmental problems, and damage to the nervous system.
The MRL is set based on the toxicological evaluation of the pesticide residue by regulatory authorities. The evaluation takes into account the toxicity of the pesticide, the likelihood of exposure, and the cumulative effect of exposure to the pesticide residue over time.
The MRL is typically expressed as a concentration, such as parts per million (ppm), or as a maximum amount of residue per unit of food product, such as milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). The MRL is established for each food product and pesticide combination.
Food products that are likely to contain pesticide residues include fruits, vegetables, grains, and animal products such as meat, milk, and eggs. Pesticide residues can enter the food chain through the use of pesticides in crop production, as well as from environmental contamination.
List of Heavily Treated Fruits & Vegetables
- Apples
- Banana
- Grapes
- Mangoes
- Brinjal
- Papaya
- Cauliflower
- Tomatoes
List of Less Treated Fruits & Vegetables
- Onion
- Carrot
- Sapota
- Sweet Potato
- Watermelon
- Snake Gourd
- Bitter Gourd
- Radish
- Beetroot
- Potatoes
- Capsicum
- Cabbage
- Bottle Gourd
The MRL is a critical tool in ensuring that food products are safe for human consumption. Regulatory authorities monitor compliance with the MRL by testing food products for pesticide residue levels. If a food product is found to have pesticide residue levels above the MRL, it can be withdrawn from the market or banned from sale.
Consumers can also take steps to reduce their exposure to pesticide residues by washing and peeling fruits and vegetables before consumption, choosing organic food products, and following good agricultural practices.
In conclusion, the MRL is a critical tool in ensuring that food products are safe for human consumption. Regulatory authorities set the MRL based on the toxicological evaluation of the pesticide residue and monitor compliance through testing food products for pesticide residue levels. Consumers can also take steps to reduce their exposure to pesticide residues by following good agricultural practices and choosing organic food products.
Short-term effects of eating fruits & vegetables laced with chemicals
- Food Poisoning
- Sore Throat & frequent bad cold
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Hair Problems
- Skin problems
Long-term ill effects of eating fruits & vegetables laced with chemicals
- Brain
- Kidney
- Heart
- Lung
- Cancer
Solution
The only solution is to buy organically grown fruits or vegetables. Organically grown vegetables are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, etc. In addition, only sweet water is used, unlike most fruits and vegetables which are grown with drainage water so less fertilizers are needed.
But the drainage vegetables spoil within days. Let’s join hands and enable more and more farmers to grow organically. OrganicoHarvest help in training conventional farmers and transitioning to organic farming. Support us so that we can make organic vegetables available at cheaper prices.
Things to keep in mind
- Eat Regional & Seasonal i.e. buy from local farmers and buy seasonal fruits & vegetables.
- Say no to Exotic fruits & vegetables because a lot of surface chemicals are applied to them for transportation