Infant formulas: evidence of the absence of pesticide residues.

Concern about the effect of potential pesticide residues on the safety of the U.S. food supply has led to extensive modeling and projections of worst-case scenarios. Many risk assessment models project risk based on an assumption of the presence of pesticide residues at the tolerance level or at a level equivalent to the limit of analytical detectability. Often, actual residue data, and the variability of analytical detection limits, are ignored in favor of simpler models. Data presented here demonstrate the absence of detectable levels of pesticides in infant formula. The range of detection limits of analytical methodology employed also are presented. A rationale for the absence of pesticide residues in infant formulas derived from plant and animal sources is presented which obviates worst-case scenario calculations of risk based on pesticide residue tolerance levels or method detection limits.