A survey of pesticide residues in 595 imported frozen products on the Tokyo market from April 1989 to March 2008 was carried out. Forty three kinds of pesticides, including organophosphorus, organochlorine, carbamate, pyrethroid and others, were detected between levels of trace (below 0.01 ppm) and 4.6 ppm from 162 samples. Chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and omethoate were frequently detected in green vegetables (komatsuna leaf and spinach), cypermethrin and methamidophos were detected in pods and seeds (green soybean and string pea), chlorpropham (CIPC) was detected in potato, and captan and carbaryl were detected in berries (blueberry, raspberry and strawberry). The hydrophilic pesticide methamidophos was detected in flesh of lychee. Residue levels of these pesticides were calculated as between less than 0.5̮ and 30̮ of their ADI values according to the daily intake of frozen products. Therefore, these frozen products should be safe when they were eaten in customary amounts.

A survey of pesticide residues in 600 imported fruit products on the Tokyo market from April 1994 to March 2006 was carried out. Thirty kinds of pesticides, including organophosphorus, organochlorine, carbamate, and pyrethroid, were detected between levels of Tr (below 0.01 ppm) to 0.37 ppm from 75 samples. Residual pesticides were detected from fruit products, dried fruits and pressed juice. A high frequency of pesticide residues was observed in peels, whole body of fruits and products which contained them. Residue levels of these pesticides were calculated as between less than 0.1 and 3.9% of their ADI values according to the daily intake of fruit products. Therefore, these fruit products should be safe when eaten in customary amounts.

Cardboard boxes used to transport crops are often reused in the distribution process, and therefore transfer of pesticides between crops might occur.So, we designed model experiments to investigate whether or not transfer of pesticide residues from crops to other crops via cardboard boxes occurs. Under severe experimental conditions, 6.2 of the pesticide residues of grapefruit was found to be transferred to spinach via cardboard boxes. In the case of the mandarin orange, 0.57 was transferred. The actual amount of transferred pesticides in the market may be less than that in these model experiments, but it is clear that transfer of pesticide residues to other crops via cardboard boxes can occur. Therefore more attention must be given to reuse of cardbord boxes in the distribution process.

A survey of pesticide residues in 313 samples of imported spices and herbs on the Tokyo market from April 1997 to March 2011 was carried out. Thirty-seven kinds of pesticides, including organophosphorus, organochlorine, pyrethroid, carbamate and others, were detected between levels of trace below 0.01 ppm and 3.3 ppm from 64 samples. The rate of detection was highest in peel 100 followed by stem 66.7 , fruit 34.5 , bark 33.3 , flower 31.3 and leaf 14.7 . No residues were detected in root, seed or whole grass. Organochlorine pesticides were detected in all plant parts. The insecticides were detected in products from all production areas, suggesting that their use is common. Residue levels of these pesticides were calculated as less than 1 of their ADI values, based on the daily intake of spices and herbs. Therefore, these spices and herbs should be safe when consumed in customary amounts.

A survey of pesticide residues in 116 imported tea samples on the Tokyo market from April 1992 to March 2010 was carried out. Twenty-two kinds of pesticides, including organophosphorus, organochlorine, pyrethroid and others, were detected at levels between trace below 0.01 ppm and 4.0 ppm in 76 samples. The rate of detection was 90 in non-fermented tea, 89 in semi-fermented tea, and 49 in fermented tea. Organophosphorus pesticide was not detected in puer tea, which is fermented with bacteria. The pesticide residues tended to be decreased by a fermentation process. However, organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides appeared to be chemically stable, so they were still detected in fermented teas. Residue levels of these pesticides were calculated as less than 1 of ADI, except for ethion 45 of ADI based on the daily intake of tea. Therefore, these teas should be safe when drunk in customary amounts.