Protecting Food as it Leaves the Farm Gate

• Every year the department selects a number of fresh commodities to be tested for the presence of pesticide residues. Since the initiation of this program in 1990, results have shown that either no residues are present or if present, residues were at levels well below approved tolerance levels.
• A general dairy sampling program monthly examines all dairy products for microbiological and chemical contaminants. Over 7,000 samples are processed every year.
• Dairy inspectors stop drug residue-contaminated raw milk from being processed by sampling the product from each milk tanker. Dairy producers whose milk tests positive for drug residues are aggressively prosecuted.