Safety evaluation of pesticide residues and heavy metals in convenience foods preferred by single-person households
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the safety of pesticide residues and heavy metals in convenience foods preferred by single-person households, using by collecting 150 samples (96 meal kits, 28 salads, and 26 cut fruits) from the Jeollanam-do region. A total of 412 pesticide residues and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and As) were analyzed. Pesticide residues were detected in 68 samples (45.3%), with 53 compounds identified. Among the product categories, salads showed the highest pesticide detection rate (67.9%), followed by meal kits (40.6%) and cut fruits (38.5%). Fluxametamide was the most frequently detected pesticide. Heavy metals were detected at rates of 96.0% for both Cd and As, and 53.3% for Pb. Cd and As were most frequently detected in salads (100.0% and 96.4%, respectively), while Pb showed the highest detection rate in cut fruits (76.9%). Human exposure assessment for the detected substances showed that the hazard index (%ADI) for pesticide residues ranged from 0.0142% to 30.9674%. For heavy metals, the risk levels relative to toxicological reference values were 2.0536% for Cd, 1.4017% for As, and 1.0757% for Pb. All evaluated risk levels were below 100%. These findings suggest that the pesticide residues and heavy metals in the analyzed convenience foods do not pose a significant risk to human health, providing a scientific basis for establishing practical safety standards.
Source: Food Science and Preservation
Language: English
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7168152425