Protecting Food Throughout the Food Chain

• The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) laboratory is one of the top pesticide and safety labs in the country and is part of a comprehensive pesticide residue testing program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.   
• Laboratory equipment is regularly updated to permit technicians to analyze residues to minute trace amounts, including the ability to detect parts per million.   
• MDARD's laboratory tests fresh commodities and processed foods, including baby food, for pesticide residues.   
• In addition to the pesticide residue testing, MDARD's laboratory conducts microbiological and pathogen testing of food and dairy products; tests for antibiotic and other drug residues in milk; and mercury and other toxic elements in fish, dairy, and other food products.