Pesticide Residues in Food: Health Risks and Regulatory Effectiveness

Food safety is a global challenge, with chemical residues in foods posing significant risks to consumers. Pesticide residues in food value chains are particularly concerning, as they are a leading cause of toxicities and human diseases worldwide. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2021, pesticide use increased by 36% from 2000 to 2019, reaching 4.1 million tonnes per year by 2017—an 81% increase since 1990. Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HPPs) are especially toxic to human health and are a major food safety concern. The extensive use of synthetic pesticides not only threatens human health but also impacts the environment and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Despite the presence of regulatory agencies, the current legal infrastructure lacks the capacity to effectively monitor and enforce regulations, leading to pesticide residues in foods often exceeding acceptable levels. Additionally, the toxicological impacts on animals and the environment are under-documented due to limited risk assessment studies. This underscores the need for better regulatory controls and alternative pest management approaches to ensure food safety.

This research topic aims to consolidate scientific findings on the current status and data regarding pesticide use, commonly detected pesticides in foods, food safety concerns related to chemical residues, and the effectiveness of existing regulations and standards. The objective is to address the challenges in regulating pesticide products and to explore current interventions and actions aimed at mitigating pesticide-related issues. Specific questions include: What are the most commonly detected pesticides in foods? How effective are current EU regulations and standards in ensuring food safety? What are the roles and challenges faced by regulatory agencies in monitoring pesticide use? What are the public health impacts of pesticide exposure, and what interventions are currently in place to address these issues?

To gather further insights into the complexities of pesticide residues in foods and their potential consumer risks, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Current pesticide dietary risk assessment and chronic and short-term exposure durations
- Public health impact of pesticides used in agriculture
- Farmer/producers’ practices in pesticide use
- Pre-harvest intervals and pesticide contamination
- Pesticide use standards and regulations
- Health risk assessments
- Exposure and health impacts on horticultural farmers and consumers