• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.131-139
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• 2023

In this study, we investigated pesticide residue levels in 535 domestically distributed agricultural products in South Korea using multi-residue analysis. Agricultural products from 13 regions, including Seoul, were pretreated using QuEChERS and d-SPE, and subsequently analyzed using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. Residual pesticides were detected in 288 (53.8%) out of the 535 samples, including 40 of apples, 40 of peppers, 33 of mandarins, 31 of peaches, and 144 other commodities. Furthermore, one sample of Korean cabbage exceeded the permitted maximum residue limit (MRL), diniconazole (0.18 mg/kg), detected at about twice the MRL. In total, 91 types of residual pesticides were detected, including fungicides (42), insecticides (48), and a nematicide. The most frequently detected pesticides were dinotefuran (91), carbendazim (75), tebuconazole (61), and pyraclostrobin (59). Our results showed that continuous monitoring of agricultural products is necessary.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.457-463
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• 2023

To investigate residual pesticide levels in agricultural products contained in Meal-kits, 27 Meal-kit products were collected from marts, Meal-kit shops, and online stores in Incheon City, South Korea. Seventy-six vegetable and thirty-seven mushroom products were analyzed for residual levels of 339 pesticides. Residual pesticides were detected in 23 out of 76 vegetables and were not present in the 37 mushroom products. The residual pesticide detection rate was 20.4% (23/113 cases). The pesticides famoxadone 0.034 mg/kg (standard: 0.01 mg/kg or less, PLS) and fenpyroximate 0.302 mg/kg (standard: 0.01 mg/kg or less, PLS) exceeded their maximum residue levels (MRL). This survey revealed that various types of pesticides remain in agricultural products in Meal-kits. Due to the nature of Meal-kit products, there is no separate standard for residual pesticides in agricultural products. Therefore, continuous monitoring of residual pesticides is necessary.