The risk associated with pesticide residues in food products, or raw materials, has been highlighted by the recent tragedy in India that saw 47 children poisoned and 23 killed by toxic pesticide levels in their school lunch.
SGS said it has the capability in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa to perform a range of pesticide residue testing on a variety of products.
Some of the categories of pesticides SGS can test for include: organophosphates, organochlorides, organonitrogens, carbamates, pyrethroids and triazines.
“Depending on the pesticide residue being tested for and the products being tested, pesticide testing is performed on high performance liquid chromatograph with tandem mass spectrometers (HPLC-MS/MS), gas chromatograph with tandem mass spectrometers (GC-MS/MS), high performance liquid chromatograph with mass spectrometer (HPLC/MS), gas chromatograph with mass spectrometer (GC/MS) or gas chromatograph with electron capture detector GC/ECD,” said a spokesman for SGS.
Following the death of 23 schoolchildren who ate contaminated lunches on July 16 in Bihar, Northern India, senior police office, Ravindra Kumar, confirmed the source of the poisoning was a high quantity of monocrotophos insecticide found in the food.
A report found organophosphorus in oil samples collected from the school which was more than five times the commercial preparation available on the market.
In addition to the Food Pesticide Residue Testing Services, SGS can support the consumer aspect of the food industry to further minimize risk. Implementing correct handling processes, a food safety management system and staff training.