Effect of home processing on the distribution and reduction of pesticide residues in apples

Abstract

The effect of home processing (washing, peeling, coring and juicing) on residue levels of chlorpyrifos, β-cypermethrin, tebuconazole, acetamiprid and carbendazim in apple segments was investigated. The pesticide residues were determined by UPLC-MS/MS and GC with a flame photometric (FPD) and electron capture detection (ECD). The results indicated that the pesticide residue levels in the apple peel and core were higher compared with in the apple flesh. After peeled and cored apple was processed into apple juice and pomace, chlorpyrifos, β-cypermethrin and tebuconazole were concentrated in the apple pomace. However, residues of acetamiprid and carbendazim were exceptions. The apple pomace was free of acetamiprid, which was mainly present in the apple juice. After washing the mean loss of chlorpyrifos, β-cypermethrin, tebuconazole, acetamiprid and carbendazim from apples under recommended dosage and twofold higher dosage were 17-21%, 6.7-7.1%, 13-32%, 42-67% and 47-50%, respectively. The pesticide residues were significantly reduced in the edible part of the apple except for β-cypermethrin during peeling and coring process. The removal effect of apple juicing was found to be the most pronounced on β-cypermethrin residue, which was reduced in the range of 81-84%, and the reductions of chlorpyrifos, tebuconazole, acetamiprid and carbendazim upon apple juicing were in the range of 15-36%.

Food safety in Thailand. 3: Pesticide residues detected in mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.), queen of fruits

“…The reduction of cypermethrin residue was less than the other four pesticides in the washing process, whereas the reductions of acetamiprid and carbendazim residues were higher than the others. These differences in washing efficacy may be related to their water solubility . Our finding on the washing efficacy being related to water solubility of pesticides is consistent with that reported by Kong and co‐authors …”

“…By washing cucumbers under running tap water for 1 min, it appeared to remove carbaryl residues by 33% . After washing apples with tap water, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, tebuconazole, acetamiprid and carbendazim were removed considerably . The reduction of cypermethrin residue was less than the other four pesticides in the washing process, whereas the reductions of acetamiprid and carbendazim residues were higher than the others.…”

A chemometric processing-factor-based approach to the determination of the fates of five pesticides during apple processing

“…The analytical method was previously described in Kong, Shan, et al (2012). An Agilent GC 7890A (Agilent Technologies, USA) equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD) was used.…”

“…Numerous studies have reported that food processing (including washing, peeling, boiling, and juicing) can largely reduce the levels of pesticide residues in food (Aguilera, Valverde, Camacho, Boulaid, & Garcia-Fuentes, 2014;Lopez-Fernandez, Rial-Otero, & Simal-Gandara, 2013). Many studies have been carried out on the removal of pesticide residues from apples during home preparation and commercial processing Kong, Shan, et al, 2012;Martin et al, 2013). However, no paper has reported on the fate of pesticide residues during the AJC manufacturing process.…”

“…Food processing also describes the process of transforming food into other forms for consumption by humans or animals (Kaushik, Satya, & Naik, 2009;Kong, Shan, et al, 2012). The level and nature of pesticides in food may be changed during food processing.…”