Chlorpyrifos, an insecticide, has historically been used on a wide range of agricultural products, leading to its presence in various foods. While its use has been restricted or banned in many areas due to health concerns, understanding which foods were commonly treated with this pesticide provides insight into its past prevalence in the food supply.
Foods that have been identified as containing or being treated with chlorpyrifos include:
Fruits and Vegetables
Many fruits and vegetables commonly consumed were subject to chlorpyrifos application.
- Apples: Over half of all apples in the U.S. were sprayed with chlorpyrifos before bans were enacted.
- Oranges: A common citrus fruit, oranges were among the crops treated with this insecticide.
- Citrus: This broader category includes various fruits beyond just oranges that were targeted for pest control with chlorpyrifos.
- Broccoli: Similar to apples, more than half of all broccoli in the U.S. was sprayed with chlorpyrifos prior to regulatory changes.
- Other foods children eat daily: This indicates a wide variety of produce staples found in children's diets were also affected.
Grains
- Wheat: This staple grain was also among the crops where chlorpyrifos was applied.
Animal Products
Chlorpyrifos was also used on feed crops, which led to residues appearing in animal products.
- Milk: Residues from treated feed crops could be found in milk.
- Eggs: Similarly, eggs could contain residues from chickens consuming treated feed.
- Meat: Livestock consuming feed crops treated with chlorpyrifos could result in residues in meat products.
These foods represent the primary categories where chlorpyrifos was widely applied, impacting a significant portion of the food supply before widespread restrictions and bans were implemented.
Common Foods Associated with Chlorpyrifos
| Food Category | Specific Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fruits | Apples, Oranges, general Citrus fruits | Historically wide application |
| Vegetables | Broccoli, various "foods children eat daily" | Common produce items were often treated |
| Grains | Wheat | Staple grain crops were also targets |
| Animal Products | Milk, Eggs, Meat (e.g., beef, chicken, pork) | Due to residues from chlorpyrifos-treated feed crops |
