Plums from South Africa
How often official samples of plums grown in South Africa break the EU maximum residue level for pesticides, by why the sample was taken.
Across 32 random market samples taken by 2 EU countries, 3.1% were above the limit (95% interval 0.6%–16%). The substance found above the limit most often was thiabendazole (1 sample). UK supermarkets: 22 samples since 2025, 0 above the UK limit.
Substances found above the limit
| Substance | Where found | Samples |
|---|---|---|
| Thiabendazole | random samples | 1 |
The limit applied is the one the lab reported at the time of sampling. Limits change; check the current value in the EU Pesticides Database.
Random market samples
1 of 32 random samples were above the limit: 3.1% (95% interval 0.6%–16%). Samples taken by FR, NL in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, pooled.
Also on file, never turned into a rate because inspectors chose them: 39 risk-based and 0 follow-up samples.
UK supermarket samples
| Month | Retailer | Residues found (mg/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-06 | Waitrose | pyrimethanil 0.09 (MRL = 2); fludioxonil 0.3 (MRL = 5); cypermethrin (sum) 0.02 (MRL = 2) |
| 2025-06 | Spar | fludioxonil 0.81 (MRL = 5) |
| 2025-06 | Lidl | fludioxonil 0.2 (MRL = 5) |
| 2025-06 | Morrisons | cypermethrin (sum) 0.02 (MRL = 2); fludioxonil 0.6 (MRL = 5); pyrimethanil 0.1 (MRL = 2) |
| 2025-06 | Sainsbury's | cypermethrin (sum) 0.03 (MRL = 2); fludioxonil 0.3 (MRL = 5); pyrimethanil 0.2 (MRL = 2) |
| 2025-05 | Tesco | azoxystrobin 0.03 (MRL = 2); fludioxonil 0.5 (MRL = 5) |
| 2025-05 | Tesco | fludioxonil 0.4 (MRL = 5); pyrimethanil 0.2 (MRL = 2) |
| 2025-05 | Tesco | fludioxonil 0.24 (MRL = 5); pyrimethanil 0.06 (MRL = 2) |
| 2025-04 | Lidl | chlorantraniliprole 0.011 (MRL = 1); fludioxonil 1.2 (MRL = 5); pyrimethanil 0.42 (MRL = 2) |
| 2025-04 | Lidl | fludioxonil 0.5 (MRL = 5) |
| 2025-04 | Waitrose | fludioxonil 0.2 (MRL = 5); pyrimethanil 0.1 (MRL = 2); Spirotetramat (partial sum) 0.02 (MRL = 3) |
| 2025-04 | Tesco | fludioxonil 0.68 (MRL = 5); pyrimethanil 0.12 (MRL = 2) |
| 2025-04 | Morrisons | azoxystrobin 0.01 (MRL = 2); fludioxonil 0.9 (MRL = 5) |
| 2025-04 | Spar | azoxystrobin 0.42 (MRL = 2) |
| 2025-04 | Lidl | fludioxonil 0.7 (MRL = 5) |
| 2025-04 | Morrisons | fludioxonil 1.3 (MRL = 5); azoxystrobin 0.01 (MRL = 2) |
| 2025-04 | Tesco | fludioxonil 2.2 (MRL = 5) |
| 2025-04 | Waitrose | cyantraniliprole 0.02 (MRL = 0.7); fludioxonil 0.02 (MRL = 5); pyrimethanil 0.2 (MRL = 2); Spirotetramat (partial sum) 0.01 (MRL = 3) |
| 2025-04 | Lidl | azoxystrobin 0.038 (MRL = 2); chlorantraniliprole 0.01 (MRL = 1); fludioxonil 0.28 (MRL = 5) |
| 2025-04 | Marks & Spencer | dithiocarbamates 0.08 (MRL = 2) |
| 2025-04 | Tesco | azoxystrobin 0.016 (MRL = 2); pyrimethanil 0.27 (MRL = 2) |
| 2025-04 | Aldi | azoxystrobin 0.01 (MRL = 2); chlorantraniliprole 0.02 (MRL = 1); cyantraniliprole 0.02 (MRL = 0.7); fludioxonil 0.6 (MRL = 5) |
Defra's Pesticide Residues in Food programme. UK limits mirror the EU's as retained in 2021 and may since differ.
Testing a shipment?
The substances listed on this page are the ones that most often break the EU limit on this product from this origin. A lab panel that covers them is the cheapest way to avoid a rejection.
Exporter residue report: South Africa
Every product from South Africa ranked by EU border-check and market findings, the substances behind them, and the check frequencies coming into force. Sign up and we email you once when it is ready.
Data
Download every sample behind this page (CSV): series, reporting country, year, month, over the limit, substances. How each sample is classified.