ABSTRACT
Domestic and international farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural producers who contribute to the US food supply use insecticides, herbicides, or other pesticides to protect their products from insects, weeds, fungi, and other threats. One important element of pesticide regulation is monitoring the food supply to determine pesticide levels. Multiple US laws give food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers the basic responsibility for ensuring that foods are wholesome, safe, and handled under sanitary conditions. The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) is responsible for oversight of domestic US foods shipped via interstate commerce and foods imported to the United States, including fruits, vegetables, dairy products, seafood, and spices. The primary purpose of the USFDA regulatory monitoring program is the protection of the US consumer by enforcing the tolerances set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The USFDA uses non-random methods to select domestic and imported foods for testing.
