CFS announces Second Hong Kong Total Diet Study findings on pesticide residues

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     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 29) released the fourth report under the Second Hong Kong Total Diet Study, which assessed the dietary exposure of the Hong Kong population to residues of pesticides or their metabolites and the associated health risks. The findings showed that the dietary exposure estimates of both average and high consumers in the local adult and younger populations to the pesticide or metabolite residues analysed were all below the respective Health-based Guidance Values (HBGVs), indicating that they would be unlikely to pose health risks to the local population. Moreover, the dietary exposure of the adult population to residues of the relevant pesticides or their metabolites was comparable to or lower than those reported in the First Hong Kong Total Diet Study.

     A total of 101 pesticides or their metabolites, including 75 under four groups, namely neonicotinoids (neonics), organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), carbamates, and dithiocarbamate (DTC) metabolites, and 26 other individual pesticides, were analysed in 374 composite samples involving 187 food items.

     Results showed that 39 pesticides (39 per cent) were not detected in any composite samples and the remaining 62 pesticides or metabolites (61 per cent) were detected at low levels in the composite samples, either singly or in combination, predominantly in plant-based food such as fruits and vegetables. Among the four groups of pesticides or metabolites, neonics was the most commonly detected, in 49 per cent of all composite samples, followed by OPPs (37 per cent) and carbamates (26 per cent). Overall, the dietary exposure estimates of the Hong Kong population to the pesticide or metabolite residues analysed were below their respective HBGVs.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The pesticides or their metabolites analysed in the study are commonly employed on crops as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc. The adverse health effects of pesticides on humans depend on their toxicity, as well as the amount and duration of exposure to the pesticide residues. In general, when pesticides are used under strict adherence to Good Agricultural Practice, only acceptable amounts of pesticide residues should remain in the crops or foods of animal origin, which would not pose health risks to the public."

     The spokesman emphasised that the findings re-affirmed the safety of basic dietary advice on healthy eating, i.e. have a balanced and varied diet which includes a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

     The Second Hong Kong Total Diet Study aims to estimate the latest dietary exposure of the Hong Kong population and various population subgroups to some chemical substances of potential food safety concern, and assess the associated health risks. The public can download the relevant study reports released thus far from the CFS webpage at www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_firm/programme_tds_2nd_HKTDS_report.html.

Ends/Monday, December 29, 2025
Issued at HKT 11:00

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