Pesticides in Food: Results from the First Quarter of 2026
What do the latest findings tell us about pesticide residues in our food? The most recent quarterly report from the Danish pesticide monitoring programme provides an overview of the results from the first three months of 2026.
Pesticide Report and Clementines
Monday 31 August 2026
Vibeke Johannessen
During the first quarter of 2026, a total of 466 food samples were analysed as part of the Danish pesticide monitoring programme. The samples included both conventional and organic foods, such as fruit, vegetables, cereals, processed products, baby food, and products of animal origin.
For the majority of the foods examined, no pesticide residues of health concern were identified. However, six samples contained pesticide residues at concentrations exceeding the legal maximum residue level (MRL), and the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), assessed that a health risk could not be excluded.
The six findings were:
Dimethoate in strawberries from Egypt
Chlorpyrifos in coriander seeds from a non-EU country of unknown origin
Chlorpyrifos in mandarins/clementines from Spain
Chlorpyrifos in cumin powder from Türkiye
Chlorpyrifos in chickpea flour from India
Chlorpyrifos in sesame oil from Malaysia
When the pesticide content of a food product exceeds the applicable maximum residue level, the product may not be placed on the market. If a potential health risk is also identified, the product is recalled, and information may be shared through the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). In connection with the findings from the first quarter of 2026, six RASFF notifications were issued.
Read the Report
The report Pesticides in Food, Monitoring of Pesticide Residues in Food, First Quarter 2026 provides an overview of the samples analysed during the quarter.
The results will also be included in the annual report on pesticide residues in food, prepared by the DTU National Food Institute in collaboration with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. The annual report is published during the second half of the year following the year in which the samples were collected.
