Carbendazim Found in OJ Reflects Regulatory Issues, Not Health Scare
17 January 2012 The US halted foreign imports of orange juice last week and 28 shipments are still in holding as they analyze carbendazim levels. Elevated residue levels of the fungicide in orange juice from Brazil initially sparked concern about exposure of crop protection products in the US food supply, prompting the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to seize all imports for further inspection.
However, the alarm sounded not because of health issues but because of a breakdown in regulatory procedures, said Dr. Robert Krieger, Extension Specialist in Entomology at the University of California, Riverside.
“It’s one of these cases where you have to be careful to separate from regulatory from health issue,” he said. “This is a regulatory issue on front pages, and that’s important. It’s not a health issue. The FDA isn’t saying, ‘stop drinking orange juice.’”
Carbendazim, developed in the early 1970s, is a fungicide historically used on vegetables, fruits and cereals such as oranges, pineapples, grapes, apples, bananas, barley and cucumbers. Low residue levels are not harmful to human health, according to the FDA.
In the United States, food companies are responsible for testing the majority of their imports. According to reports, Coca-Cola admitted to informing the US FDA that the fungicide was present in higher-than-normal levels in both its orange juice samples and that of competitors. Pepsi tested its orange juice, Tropicana, and also found carbendazim, but released a statement saying levels detected should not cause health worries.
The orange juice is likely being imported from Brazil where carbendazim is legal and used to treat orange trees for mold.
The World Health Organization listed 23 countries in 1993 with maximum residue levels (MRLS) for the product, including the US. Since then, the US has found alternative fungicides and banned carbendazim for use on oranges and other foods, sending global usage of the product plummeting. Restrictions occurred based on the availability of new fungicides and had little to do with health concerns, according to Krieger.
Krieger said it is unlikely that a worldwide ban of the fungicide would occur because of the scare. However, US government agencies such as FDA will review and implement regulatory changes.
The European Union, which also has banned the use of carbendazim on citrus, has already said that it will ramp up its testing for orange juice imports. However, it has a higher residue threshold for imports than the US.
“I doubt if banning is going to be the issue,” he said. “In the US there will be more testing for the residue. If the European Union finds reason to restrict its use, then it will.”
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