Measurement / residue studyindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-RES-104 standard review

More than half of tested Egyptian foods had pesticide traces

Comprehensive multi-residue analysis of 87 pesticides in Egyptian food commodities: Method validation and dietary risk assessment.

Overview

Ezzat A et al.. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2026 · PMID 41678938 · DOI 10.1016/j.jchromb.2026.124960

55% of 591 samples had residues; calculated risks were below the level of concern.

Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate

Study explained simply

What did the researchers want to find out?: How frequent are pesticide residues in selected Egyptian foods and herbs and what are the hazard quotients?
How was the study done?: Method validation plus market survey with hazard quotients
How many people, animals or samples were studied?: 591 samples
What was actually found?: 325 of 591 samples (54.9%) contained residues; 38 compounds, most frequent chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, profenofos; dried mint 63.1% and hibiscus 64.2%; up to eight pesticides in one sample. THQ: chlorpyrifos in rice 0.286, profenofos in dried mint 0.098; all below 1.
How large was the observed effect?: 325 of 591 samples (54.9%) contained residues; 38 compounds, most frequent chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, profenofos; dried mint 63.1% and hibiscus 64.2%; up to eight pesticides in one sample. THQ: chlorpyrifos in rice 0.286, profenofos in dried mint 0.098; all below 1.
What do the results mean in everyday life?: Residues are common in Egypt, including banned chlorpyrifos, but measured risks were below thresholds.
What are the study's limitations?: Sampling not described in abstract; Chlorpyrifos detected despite national ban (from 2022, per jurisdiction data)
What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?: Supports detection, not harm.
Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?: Not EU data.
What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?: Cumulative exposure not assessed.

How frequent are pesticide residues in selected Egyptian foods and herbs and what are the hazard quotients?

Study design: Measurement / residue study – Method validation plus market survey with hazard quotients
Population: Apple, chamomile, caraway, dried mint, fennel, green beans, hibiscus, rice
Country: Egypt
Period: not stated
Sample size: 591 samples
Inclusion and exclusion criteria: as described in the abstract

Results: 325 of 591 samples (54.9%) contained residues; 38 compounds, most frequent chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, profenofos; dried mint 63.1% and hibiscus 64.2%; up to eight pesticides in one sample. THQ: chlorpyrifos in rice 0.286, profenofos in dried mint 0.098; all below 1.
Absolute risks: not reported
Authors' conclusion: Values below the action threshold of unity but warrant enhanced monitoring.

Hazard quotients below 1 for all combinations reported.

Egyptian evidence of frequent detection with exposure below thresholds.

55% of 591 samples had residues; calculated risks were below the level of concern.

Multidimensional assessment
Multidimensional assessment
Authenticity of the source	verified
Methodological quality	moderate
Risk of bias	some concerns
Precision of results	moderate
Directness	direct
Reproducibility	partly replicated
Consistency with the overall evidence	consistent
Regional transferability	low
Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)	not applicable