Potatoes from France
How often official samples of potatoes grown in France break the EU maximum residue level for pesticides, by why the sample was taken.
Across 574 random market samples taken by 5 EU countries, 0.7% were above the limit (95% interval 0.3%–1.8%). The substance found above the limit most often was imazalil (2 samples). UK supermarkets: 14 samples since 2021, 0 above the UK limit.
Substances found above the limit
| Substance | Where found | Samples |
|---|---|---|
| Imazalil | random samples | 2 |
| Chlorpropham | random samples | 1 |
| Fosthiazate | 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
4 of 574 random samples were above the limit: 0.7% (95% interval 0.3%–1.8%). Samples taken by BE, DE, FR, IT, NL in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, pooled.
Also on file, never turned into a rate because inspectors chose them: 302 risk-based and 0 follow-up samples.
UK supermarket samples
| Month | Retailer | Residues found (mg/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-09 | Dunnes Stores | 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene 0.011 (MRL = 20) |
| 2025-07 | Dunnes Stores | 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene 0.018 (MRL = 20) |
| 2025-06 | Dunnes Stores | none found |
| 2025-05 | Lidl | 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene 0.33 (MRL = 20) |
| 2024-11 | Dunnes Stores | Fosetyl-Al (sum) 0.23 (MRL = 200) |
| 2024-06 | Other shops | maleic hydrazide 14 (MRL = 60) |
| 2024-06 | Other shops | maleic hydrazide 14 (MRL = 60) |
| 2024-05 | Dunnes Stores | chlorpropham 0.02 (MRL = 0.35); 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene 0.1 (MRL = 15); maleic hydrazide 9.8 (MRL = 60) |
| 2024-05 | Dunnes Stores | chlorpropham 0.02 (MRL = 0.35); 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene 0.1 (MRL = 15); maleic hydrazide 9.8 (MRL = 60) |
| 2023-02 | Asda | maleic hydrazide 35 (MRL = 60) |
| 2023-01 | Lidl | maleic hydrazide 26 (MRL = 60) |
| 2021-10 | Other shops | flonicamid (sum) 0.07 (MRL = 0.09) |
| 2021-07 | Dunnes Stores | 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene 0.2 (MRL = 15) |
| 2021-07 | Asda | flonicamid (sum) 0.03 (MRL = 0.09) |
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.
Data
Download every sample behind this page (CSV): series, reporting country, year, month, over the limit, substances. How each sample is classified.