Kathmandu- Pesticide residues in vegetables brought to Kalimati Vegetable Market from various districts of Nepal have been found to be within safety standards.
On Monday, a joint team from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock Services and the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, under Kathmandu Metropolitan City, carried out on-site testing of vegetable samples entering the market. The testing was done from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. using a Mobile Food Laboratory.
All 174 samples inspected were found to have pesticide residues within the safe limits. According to Ishwor Subedi, Senior Research Officer at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, the pesticide levels in the tested fruits and vegetables did not exceed safety standards.
The inspected samples included vegetables such as cucumber, sponge gourd, bitter gourd, potato, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage, beans, and coriander; fruits like lychee; and even dried fish.
Pesticides from the organophosphate and carbamate groups were tested using the RBPR (Rapid Bioassay of Pesticide Residue) method.
The inspection team included Dr. Ishwor Subedi, Food Research Officer Sushant Niraula, Research Specialist Padam Bhusal, and Food Technologist Ashok Parajuli from Kathmandu Metropolitan City.