[holding answer 25 January 2008]: European Community maximum residue levels (MRLs) are set on primary produce rather than processed products. There are therefore no EC MRLs for (a) soya meal, (c) tofu, (d) soya pieces and mince, (e) soya oil. The EC MRLs for the primary produce are:
EC MRL Whole soya beans 20 Eggs 10.01 Poultry meat 0.05 Milk and dairy products 10.01 Beef 0.05 Pork 0.05 1 The limit of determination (LOD) is the lowest concentration of a pesticide residue that can be measured using routine analysis.
[holding answer 25 January 2008]: In 1999 the predecessor to the Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC), the Working Party on Pesticide Residues (WPPR) analysed 43 samples of soya products for 13 pesticide residues including glyphosate at a reporting level of 0.1 mg/kg. The products included were soya milk, soya mince, and tofu. Glyphosate was not found at or above the reporting level in any of the samples.
In their quarter 2 report of 2006 published in December 2006 the Pesticide Residues Committee reported the results of their survey of 60 samples of soya milk. Glyphosate was sought but not found at or above the reporting level of 0.1 mg/kg in any of the samples.
In their quarter 4 report of 2006 published in June 2007 the PRC reported the results for their survey of 60 samples of soya pieces and tofu. Glyphosate was sought but not found at or above the reporting level of 0.1 mg/kg in 49 out of the 60 samples. It was found at levels ranging from 0.1 to 1.1 mg/kg in 11 samples as outlined in the following table.
The country of origin is taken from the food packaging. It may be the country where the soya was grown, or where the food was produced or where it was packed for sale.
Date of sample Description Country of origin Retail outlet Address Brand name Packer/manufacturer Pesticide residues found in mg/kg (MRL 13 November 2006 Meat free soya mince UK Asda Bruton Way, Gloucester, GL1 1LS Asda Asda Stores Ltd, Southbank, Great Wilson street, Leeds LS11 5AD Glyphosate0.2 (no MRL) 13 November 2006 Meat free soya mince UK Asda Bruton Way, Gloucester, GL1 1LS Asda Asda Stores Ltd, Southbank, Great Wilson street, Leeds LS11 5AD Glyphosate 0.1 (no MRL) 14 October 2006 Savoury mince Brazil Holland and Barrett Ernside Shopping Centre, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, BT74 6JQ Nature’s Harvest Nature’s Harvest, Burton-upon-Trent, DE14 2WP Glyphosate 0.9 (no MRL) 13 October 2006 Soya mince Brazil Holland and Barrett High street, Arbroath, DD11 1DZ Nature’s Harvest Nature’s Harvest Burton-upon-Trent, DE14 2WP Glyphosate 0.1 (no MRL) 30 October 2006 Unflavoured soya mince Brazil Holland and Barrett Mostyn street, Llandudno, LL30 3BD Nature's Harvest Nature’s Harvest Burton-upon-Trent, DE14 2WP Glyphosate 0.1 (no MRL) 10 November 2006 Soya mince Brazil Holland and Barrett High street, Arbroath, DD11 1DZ Nature’s Harvest Nature’s Harvest, Burton-upon- Trent, DE14 2WP Glyphosate 1.1 (no MRL) 11 November 2006 Soya mince The Netherlands Holland and Barrett Long Causeway, Peterborough, PE1 1YJ Nature’s Harvest Nature’s Harvest, Burton-upon-Trent, DE14 2WP Glyphosate 0.1 (no MRL) 8 November 2006 Soya mince UK Sainsbury’s Etherstone Avenue, Long Benton, NE7 7JW Sainsbury's Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd, 33 Holborn, London, EC1N 2HT Glyphosate 0.1 (no MRL) 12 November 2006 Soya mince Brazil Tesco Pasteur road, Great Yarmouth, NR31 ODW Tesco Stores Ltd, Delamare road, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire ENS 9SL Glyphosate0.4 (No MRL) 20 November 2006 Soya mince Brazil Tesco Broad street, Teddington, TW11 8RF Tesco Tesco Stores Ltd, Delamare road, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire ENS 9SL Glyphosate 0.3 (no MRL) 31 October 2006 Bean feast mince UK Wm Morrison Newgate Park Centre, Bob Hardisty Drive, DL14 7TN Batchelves Campbell Grocery Ltd, PO Box 1086, Hardwick road, Kings Lynn, PC30 4FB Glyphosate 0.2 (no MRL)