Reduction of Pesticide Residues in the Production of Red Pepper Powder

Six organophosphorus, one organochlorine, and three synthetic pyrethroid pesticides were analyzed for their residues during washing and hot-air drying of red peppers conducted in the production of powder. The residue ratio in organophosphorus pesticides was 33% in chlorpyrifos, 31 % in diazinon, 50% in methidathion, 80% in EPN, 28% in fenitrothion, and 60% in profenofos. The ratio in pyrethroids was 109% in cypermethrin, 102% in deltamethrin, and 106% in fenvalerate. That in organochlorine was 56% in ${\alpha}$-endosulfan and 90% in ${\beta}$-endosulfan. The results were greatly different between organophosphorus and pyrethroid pesticides. UV irradiation along with hot-air drying brought about a remarkable reduction of the residues, up to 70% as compared with hot-air drying only. The removal effect was most remarkable in pyrethroids, which are hardly removed by hot-air drying. The color of the pepper was not changed during UV irradiation. The use of oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide or chlorine dioxide during washing did not show a remarkable removal of residues. The residue ratio was not affected whether the pesticide is contaminated artificially or naturally.