The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) analyzed 165 samples from 42 date producers in 17 cities and provinces during the first half of 2018.
The results showed that 89.1 percent of the samples had permissible levels of pesticide residues, while 10.9 percent exceeded those levels. Some of the samples contained pesticides prohibited by the Water and Agriculture Ministry. The inspection visits are part of the SFDA’s efforts to reduce the level of pesticide residues in food.
All date factories are inspected to ensure they comply with food safety standards and take the necessary actions against the factories with date samples showing more pesticide residues.
Various actions are taken against those whose samples exceed permissible levels of pesticide residues.
SOURCE : ARABNEWS
