Excessive pesticide residues detected in green chillies

By Kapil Gyawali,Siddharthanagar, July 22: Excessive levels of pesticide residues have been detected in green chillies brought for sale at the wholesale market in Butwal’s Old Bus Park.

The finding was confirmed after the Pesticide Residue Rapid Analysis Laboratory Unit in Butwal tested samples of vegetables and fruits collected from the wholesale market on Tuesday morning.

According to Rajiv Bhandari, assistant technical officer at the laboratory unit, the green chillies, supplied by Om Nikhilam Vegetable Shop in Kapurkot Rural Municipality, Salyan, contained 59.52 per cent organophosphate pesticide residue.

“Under normal standards, vegetables containing less than 35 per cent carbamate and organophosphate pesticide residues are considered fit for consumption,” he said. “If the residue level is between 35 and 45 per cent, the produce is kept in quarantine for a few days and retested before being declared safe. However, if the residue exceeds 45 per cent, it is deemed unfit for consumption and must be destroyed,” Bhandari added.

Alongside the green chillies, the laboratory also tested samples of cauliflower, cucumber, beans, aubergine, long beans, sponge gourd, carrots, tomatoes, snake beans, bitter gourd, okra, mangoes, round chillies and fresh coriander.

Bhandari said pesticide residue levels in all other samples were within the permissible limits. The pesticide-contaminated green chillies were destroyed in coordination with the Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City.

The Pesticide Residue Rapid Analysis Laboratory routinely collects and tests samples of vegetables and fruits arriving at the wholesale market every morning. However, vegetables sold outside the wholesale market in Butwal are not currently subject to pesticide residue testing.

Previously, excessive pesticide residue had also been detected in snake beans, cauliflower and cucumbers.