Report on the Organic Product Monitoring Program of Baden-Württemberg, 2012

The Federal State of Baden-Württemberg has been conducting a special monitoring program on organically produced foods since 2002. This monitoring is associated with Baden-Württemberg’s overall concept of promoting organic farming. Organic products are systematically tested for residues and contaminants, as well as other relevant issues. The goal of the organic monitoring program is to prevent fraud by better tracking down cases of improper labeling in this fast expanding market and to strengthen consumers’ confidence in the quality of organically produced foods.

 

The specific aims of our organic monitoring program are:

  • Collection of data regarding residues and contaminants in organic products (e.g. pesticides, genetically modified plants, dioxins, etc.)
  • Comparison of organic foods produced locally and in foreign countries, especially in third world countries
  • Identifying fraud via improper organic labeling: is the organically labeled product really organic?
  • Comparison of organically and conventionally produced foods
  • Strengthening of consumers’ confidence in organic produce via efficient control and transparency of the resulting findings

 

The monitoring program is being carried out as a joint project by the four official food control laboratories (CVUAs) of Baden-Württemberg, in close collaboration with the authority in charge of organic foods (Öko-Kontrollstelle im Regierungspräsidium Karlsruhe). CVUA Stuttgart is responsible for coordination and reporting. All the results are published annually on the Internet (http://oekomonitoring.cvuas.de) and the media has shown great interest in the findings. This is only a short summary of the monitoring results. A comprehensive report with detailed data can be found in German on the Internet.

 

In addition, because the organic monitoring project has been in existence for 10-years, a summary report was presented in 2012, which covers the results from the years 2002 to 2011.

 

In 2012 the following range of topics was dealt with:

 

 

Following is a summary of the results from 2012.

 

Cover image.

 

Genetically Modified (GM) Plants

As in past years, soy was the only organic plant found to be contaminated as a result of genetic modification. Furthermore, the number of positive samples as well as the degree of contamination via GM was significantly lower than that for the conventional products tested.

 

Toxic Molds (Mycotoxins)

A total of 50 samples of roasted coffee and 20 of cocoa powder were investigated in Baden-Württemberg for the presence of the mycotoxin Ochratoxin A (OTA). Comparisons were made between the amount found in organic vs. conventional products. There were no cases of exceedance of the legally established limit for OTA; the average level of contamination of both production types was comparably low. To date no limit for OTA has been established for cocoa powder. Both the highest as well as the average amount of OTA detected in the conventionally produced cocoa powder samples was less than that found in the roasted coffee samples. Due to the low number of organically produced cocoa samples, however, the results are not statistically significant.
 A total of 15 samples of whole grain noodles from organic and conventional production were analyzed for the presence of the fusarium toxins Deoxynivalenol (DON) und Zearalenone (ZEA). Regardless of production type, all samples containing DON had quantities under the maximum limit established by EU Regulation No. 1881/2006. The average levels of DON found in organically produced whole grain noodles were under the quantities detected in conventionally produced products. ZEA was not detected in any of the samples. So far there has been no maximum limit established for this toxin in noodles.
We are happy to report that, as a result of avoiding the use of pesticides on the above-mentioned organic products, no high levels of contamination from mycotoxins were found.

 

Pesticide Residues in Foods of Plant Origin

As in past years, there was a great difference between organically and conventionally produced fruit and vegetables in terms of both the sheer number of samples found with residues, as well as the amount of chemical/synthetic pesticides contained therein. The majority of organic samples contained no pesticides. Where residues were found, only traces (0.01 mg/kg) of a single substance were normally detected, well below the concentration normally found on plants after the application of such a substance.
The average quantity of pesticide detected in all of the organic fruit samples together (including those falsely labeled as organic) was 0.15 mg/kg. This sank to 0.001 mg/kg when certain samples were excluded from the calculation (those suspected of having been conventionally produced or blended with conventional plants, and those detected with phosphorous acid). Residues of phosphorous acid can result from the application of the fungicide Fosetyl as well as from plant strengtheners. The quantity in some of these samples was over 1 mg/kg. In contrast, conventionally produced fruit contained an average of 0.52 mg pesticide residues per kg (not including surface treatment substances).
For organically labeled vegetables, the average quantity of pesticide detected in all of the samples was 0.009 mg/kg. This was reduced to 0.001 mg/kg when samples suspected of having been conventionally produced or blended with conventional plants and those detected with dithiocarbamates (CS2) were excluded from the calculation. In certain plants such as rucola a blank value of up to 2 mg/kg is possible due to the naturally occurring phytogenic CS2 (in the form of mustard seed oil). In contrast, the average amount of pesticide residues found in the conventionally grown vegetables was 0.40 mg/kg (excluding bromide).
This year there were several violations registered for high residues of Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) in organic bananas (5 cases, 28 %). DDAC residues can result from the use of a plant protector (unlisted fertilizers containing DDAC; quarternary ammonium compounds as co-formulants in pesticides) as well as from the use of biocides (via cross contamination). There were only a few violations amount the total remaining fresh organic foods. There were also no further conspicuous findings among single food items.
In general, the number of violations among fresh organic products has remained at a low level in the past years. In 2012, however, the number rose slightly in comparison to the previous years (4.2 % in 2012, 2.1 % in 2011, 1.3 % in 2010, 1.0 % in 2009, 4.9 % in 2008, 7.5 % in 2007 and 4.9 % in 2006). The reason for this slight increase was mainly due to the presence of DDAC residues. This substance was investigated in 2012 for the first time and was detected in many conventional and in a few organic product samples.
In 2012 violations were noted in a total of 6 samples (5.0 %) of fresh fruit, 4 samples of fresh vegetables (3.1 %) and 1 sample of fresh mushrooms from organic production. These samples were judged to be deceptive due to the increased levels of pesticide residues in products labeled as organic. In 8 of the 261 (3.1%) samples of unprocessed food products the amounts of substances were in excess of the legal limit established by EU Regulation No. 396/2005.
For processed organic products the rate of violations was 3.4 %; this was comparable to that of fresh products, but significantly lower than in the years 2011 (8.1 %) and 2010 (6.3 %). To some extent, valid processing factors for particular active substances must be taken into account for these products because this process can either reduce or increase residues in the original, fresh product. In 2012 a total of 3 (7.5 %) samples of processed fruit products, 2 (29 %) samples of wine and 1 (20 %) sample of a tea-like product were registered. These samples were judged to be deceptive due to the increased levels of pesticide residues in products labeled as organic. From the 179 processed food products, 2 (1.1 %) samples contained one substance each that was in excess of the legal limit established by EU Regulation No. 396/2005.
As a rule very few organically grown products contained residues over 0.01 mg/kg. The organic products present a distinctly different picture with regard to pesticide residues from that of the conventional products, as seen in the following two tables of comparisons.

 

Table 1: Pesticide Residues in Fresh Fruits and Vegetables : Organic vs. Conventional (CVUA Stuttgart 2012)
Production type
Number of samples1
Samples with residues
Samples with residues >  0.01 mg/kg2,3
Samples with residues >  MRL4
Number of pesticides >  MRL4
Samples with multiple residues
Leaf vegetables
Organic
47
20 (43 %)
3 (6.4 %)
2 (4.3 %)
DDAC (2x)
8 (17 %)
Conventional
353
273 (87 %)
222 (63 %)
22 (6.2 %)
27
273 (77 %)
Fruiting vegetables
Organic
62
10 (16 %)
1 (1.6 %)
1 (1.6 %)
Tetramethrin
6 (9.7 %)
Conventional
425
337 (79 %)
258 (61 %)
33 (7.8 %)
45
278 (65 %)
Brassica vegetables
Organic
15
4 (27 %)
1 (6.7 %)
0
0
3 (20 %)
Conventional
82
60 (73 %)
34 (41 %)
1 (1.2 %)
1
35 (43 %)
Root vegetables
Organic
4
0
0
0
0
0
Conventional
34
29 (85 %)
16 (47 %)
1 (2.9 %)
1
24 (71 %)
Potatoes
Organic
6
1 (17 %)
0
0
0
1 (17 %)
Conventional
31
27 (87 %)
18 (58 %)
1 (3.2 %)
1
27 (87 %)
Cultivated mushrooms
Organic
3
2 (-)
1 (-)
0
0
1 (-)
Conventional
77
70 (91 %)
61 (79 %)
6 (7.8 %)
6
54 (70 %)
Spices (Fresh ginger)
Organic
5
3 (60 %)
1 (20 %)
0
0
1 (-)
Conventional
13
11 (85 %)
11 (85 %)
3 (23 %)
4
3 (23 %)
Berries and grapes
Organic
51
15 (29 %)
0
0
0
2 (3.9 %)
Conventional
270
255 (94 %)
231 (86 %)
12 (4.4 %)
14
234 (87 %)
Pome fruits
Organic
11
5 (45 %)
0
0
0
2 (18 %)
Conventional
88
85 (97 %)
79 (90 %)
0
0
81 (92 %)
Stone fruits
Organic
4
1 (-)
1 (-)
0
0
1 (-)
Conventional
158
146 (92 %)
124 (78 %)
3 (1.9 %)
4
129 (82 %)
Citrus fruits
Organic
26
4 (15 %)
0
0
0
0
Conventional
132
130 (98 %)
122 (92 %)
8 (6.1 %)
9
120 (91 %)
Exotic fruits
Organic
27
12 (4 %)
6 (22 %)
5 (19 %)
DDAC (5x)
1 (3.7 %)
Conventional
151
121 (80 %)
99 (66 %)
13 (8.6 %)
18
99 (66 %)

1For number of samples < 5, no percentage given

2Excluding azadirachtin, piperonyl butoxide, pyrethrum, rotenone and spinosad (authorized for use in organic agriculture)

3Excluding gibberellic acid (can grow naturally from various plants), phosphorous acid (can originate from authorized plant strengtheners) and bromide (can also have geogenic origins; an amount < 5 mg/kg assessed as “natural”)

4MRL = maximum residue limit according to EU Regulation Nr. 396/2005

 

Table 2: Pesticide Residues in Processed Foods: Organic vs. Conventional (CVUA Stuttgart 2012)
Production type
Number of samples1
Samples with residues
Samples with residues > 0.01 mg/kg2,3
Samples with residues > MRL4
Number of pesticides > MRL4
Samples with multiple residues
Processed Fruit Products
organic
40
23 (58 %)
8 (20 %)
5 (12.5 %)2
0
0
15 (38 %)
conventional
15
12 (80 %)
6 (40 %)
1 (6.7 %)
1
8 (53 %)
Processed Vegetable Products
organic
14
6 (43 %)
0
0
0
0
conventional
59
51 (86 %)
39 (66 %)
9 (15 %)
305
38 (64 %)
Wine
organic
7
4 (57 %)
2 (29 %)
2 (29 %)2
0
0
3 (43 %)
conventional
25
21 (84 %)
14 (56 %)
0
0
20 (80 %)
Legumes
organic
43
13 (30 %)
0
0
0
4 (9.3 %)
conventional
8
2 (25 %)
2 (25 %)
0
0
0
Cereal and Cereal Products
organic
45
12 (27 %)
2 (4.4 %)
2 (4.4 %)
1 (2.2 %)
Dichlorvos
2 (4.4)
conventional
55
31 (56 %)
25 (45 %)
0
0
15 (27 %)
Tea-like Products
organic
5
3 (60 %)
2 (40 %)
1 (20 %)2
1 (20 %)
Thiophanate-methyl
3 (60 %)
conventional
19
19 (100 %)
17 (89 %)
3 (16 %)
3
19 (100 %)
Plant-based Oils
organic
6
4 (67 %)
2 (33 %)
0 (0 %)2
0
0
2 (33 %)
conventional
17
14 (82 %)
13 (76 %)
0
0
13 (76 %)
Baby Foods
organic
13
0
0
0
0
0
conventional
2
0
0
0
0
0

1For number of samples < 5, no percentage given

2considering processing factors for wine, oils, cereal products, tea-like products and processed fruits

3excluding azadirachtin, piperonyl butoxide, pyrethrum und spinosad (authorized for use in organic agriculture), phosphorous acid (can originate from authorized plant strengtheners), and bromide (can also have geogenic, „natural“ origins)

4MRL = maximum residue limit according to EU Regulation Nr. 396/2005

5 25 of these MRL exceedances affected 4 samples of grape leaves

 

Organic Contaminants, Pesticides and Biocides in Foods of Animal Origin

The focus of reporting this year was on the product groups of sheep/goat cheese and beef.
The evaluations of the various food groups of animal origin show little difference between the organic and conventional products, although organically raised beef featured somewhat higher levels due to the housing conditions of the cows. The exposure of this food to chlor-organic and bromine organic contaminants and pesticides as well as to nitro-musk compounds has significantly dropped in the last 25 years, whereby DDT and PCB and, to some extent, HCB still present the highest concentrations. This latent contamination from these persistent contaminants and no longer legal pesticides (so-called organochlorine pesticides) for this product group has a current average median of under 10 µg/ kg fat.

 

Dioxins and Dioxin-like PCBs in Foods

Dioxins and PCBs are environmental contaminants that accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals via the food chain; in milk and eggs the accumulation occurs in the fat content. Our experience has shown that there is little difference between organic and conventional food products in terms of organic contaminants because they are brought in by polluted air, soil or animal feed.
In 2012, within the scope of the organic monitoring program, 52 samples of cow milk and 39 samples of beef were analyzed for the presence of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCB). All samples contained dioxins and dl-PCB in quantities under the legal maximum limit. However, the monitoring threshhold set in 2012 for dl-PCB in beef was exceeded in one sample; in another, it was exceeded when taking the statistical distribution under consideration. Both samples were produced organically. The quantities found in these samples were mostly in a range that did not point to a specific source.
The average quantity of dioxins and dl-PCBs in the milk samples were comparable for conventional and organic products. As in previous years, the organic beef samples tended to contain somewhat higher levels of dioxins and dl-PCBs; however, one must take the low number of organic beef samples into consideration when interpreting the results.

 

Manufacturing-Induced Contaminants

Furan in Ready-to-Eat Cereals

Ready-to-eat cereals such as breakfast cereals enjoy great popularity. In 2011 and 2012 the question of furan in organic vs. conventional cereals was examined within the scope of the organic monitoring program. The available data is not yet sufficient to point to a differentiation between the two, however.

 

3-MCPD-Ester und Glycidyl Ester in Cooking Oils and Fats

A total of 35 samples of frying fat/oil and margarines were analyzed, 12 of which were organic and 23 conventional products. There was great variation within both groups, but this was certainly not due to the organic or conventional origins of the raw materials, but rather to the different refining methods and fat composition of the individual samples. What was notable, however, was the finding that some organic margarines contained very high levels of 3-MCPD esters.

 

Fertilizers in Foods of Plant Origin

Time and again reports on allegedly falsely labeled organic products show the necessity for analytical methods that are appropriate for distinguishing between conventionally and organically produced foods. From as early as 2008, investigations have been conducted within the scope of the organic monitoring program with the goal of verifying compliance with the EU’s legal regulations regarding use of nitrogen fertilizers in organic farming. A new type of analytical method was thereby employed with which unauthorized use of nitrogen-mineral fertilizers on organic products could be detected. In the years from 2008 to 2011 the main focus of the investigations lie in the collection of baseline data (see organic monitoring reports from these years). In 2012 a special investigative program was carried out on tomatoes, in which data from these samples were compared with the baseline data. A total of 10 out of 63 organic tomato samples were conspicuous in the laboratory; doubt was raised as to whether these fruits were indeed, as advertised, organically farmed. In light of these suspicious findings, further analyses should be conducted and expanded to other types of foods such as bell peppers. CVUA Freiburg has thus been commissioned to carry out a research project in connection with the Ministry of Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection Baden-Württemberg. In this important context the potential for new methods to best protect consumers from fraud should be exhausted to their full extent.

 

Organic Sausages Without Phosphate?

The use of phosphate containing additives in conventionally produced meat products (mainly in scalded sausages and preserved meat) is widespread. In contrast, this is not allowed in organic meat products. In 2012, between October and December, 17 samples of organic scalded sausage products were analyzed with regard to the usage of phosphate containing additives. Chemical analyses revealed no such cases.

 

Varroa Preventative Substances in Organic Honey

In 2012, in accordance with EU Organic Regulation No. 889/2008, 21 samples of honey were analyzed with regard to authorized organic acids and essential oils. All of the honey samples were judged to be within the normal limits. There was no tendency toward any differences between honeys with and without the organic labels.

 

Black Olives – Blackened, Preserved, Contaminated?

Within the scope of the organic monitoring 43 samples of “black olives” were analyzed, 16 of which were labeled organic. None of the 16 organic products were blackened or preserved in an unauthorized manner. Both of these processes are permitted for conventional products and are regularly performed. In terms of contamination with lead and cadmium, there was no significant difference between organic and conventional goods. All of the samples contained amounts under the designated maximum limits for these heavy metals.

 

Note

Detailed information (including results tables) can be found in the German version of the monitoring report .
If you have any questions concerning the report on the Organic Monitoring Program of Baden-Württemberg, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

 

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Report published on 24.06.2013 11:06:23