Exposure assessment of the Belgian population to pesticide residues through the consumption of fruit and vegetables year 2008

The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) monitored 1,413 samples of 
fruit and vegetables in 2008. Pesticide residues were detected in approximately 72% of the 
samples and in about 6% of the cases the standard was exceeded. These values (detection 
frequency and number of exceedings) can lead to unnecessary concern among consumers. A 
more nuanced representation is obtained when the exposure to pesticide residues is 
considered. Based on the data collected in the Belgian food consumption survey performed 
by the Institute of Public Health (ISP 2006) and data of the 2008 pesticide monitoring 
programme of the FASFC, the exposure of Belgian consumers to pesticide residues through 
consumption of fruit and vegetables is evaluated in this advice.