Pesticide Residue Distribution in Strawberries: A Methodological Approach

What happens if a small portion of the crown is analyzed together with the fruit? The highest factor calculated was 277. If the whole strawberry is homogenized, the residue concentration will increase by a factor of 4.2. Only 10 percent of the crown would increase the concentration by a factor of 1.3, which can be critical for pesticides with a low MRL and might cause a false positive result.

The crown leaves of strawberries should be generously removed from the fruit by a clear cut below the crown to guarantee that it is removed completely. The same should be done by the consumers to avoid unnecessary intake of residues.

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Lampe is geo-ecologist/managing director at Analytica Alimentaria GmbH. Reach him at [email protected]. Hambi and Welday are laboratory technicians. Bihl is a food chemist. Dr. Krause is a physicist for Analytica Alimentaria. Reach him at [email protected].