FDA FY 2024 Pesticide Residue Monitoring Report: Food Compliance & Regulatory Guide

What FDA’s Latest Pesticide Monitoring Findings Mean for Food Manufacturers, Importers and Suppliers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published its Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program Report for Fiscal Year 2024, providing an overview of pesticide residues detected in domestic and imported human and animal foods.

The report covers samples collected between 1 October 2023 and 30 September 2024 and evaluates residues of approximately 780 different pesticides and selected industrial compounds.

Overall, FDA found that pesticide residue levels measured in the U.S. food supply were generally in compliance with pesticide tolerances established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The FY 2024 results are important for food manufacturers, growers, processors, importers, exporters and other companies supplying food to the U.S. market.

They also highlight the importance of maintaining effective pesticide residue controls, supplier qualification, agricultural sourcing oversight, analytical testing and import compliance programs.

Why FDA’s Pesticide Residue Report Matters

Pesticides are widely used to protect crops from insects, fungi, weeds and other agricultural pests.

The EPA establishes pesticide tolerances, which represent the maximum permitted residue level for a specific pesticide chemical in or on a particular food.

The FDA is responsible for enforcing applicable EPA pesticide tolerances for domestic foods shipped in interstate commerce and foods imported into the United States, with certain food categories regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

FDA uses a risk-based monitoring program to identify foods and commodities that may warrant additional attention.

If FDA detects:

• A pesticide residue above an established tolerance; or
• A pesticide for which no applicable tolerance or exemption exists,

the agency may take appropriate regulatory action.

For businesses, this means pesticide residue compliance should be addressed throughout the food supply chain rather than only through finished product testing.

FY 2024 FDA Pesticide Monitoring: Key Findings

During FY 2024, FDA analyzed 3,834 samples under its regulatory pesticide monitoring program:

• 3,528 human food samples
• 306 animal food samples

For human foods, 893 samples were domestic and 2,635 were imported. Domestic samples came from 46 states, while import samples represented 76 countries/economies.

FDA FY 2024 Monitoring Results

The report shows that domestic human food samples had a higher compliance rate than imported human food samples. FDA notes that this difference is consistent with its risk-based sampling approach, which prioritizes imported products and countries with a history or greater likelihood of pesticide residue violations.

Human Food Monitoring Results

FDA analyzed 3,528 human food samples during FY 2024.

Of the domestic samples, 98.2% were compliant, while 84.4% of imported human food samples were compliant with federal standards.

The domestic sampling program covered a broad range of commodities, including fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, eggs, fish and other foods.

FDA's report indicates that fruits and vegetables represented most domestic human food samples analyzed.

For example, among domestic samples:

• 236 fruit samples were analyzed.
• 495 vegetable samples were analyzed.
• 63 milk/dairy products/eggs samples were analyzed.
• 31 grain and grain product samples were analyzed.

The report found 14 violative samples among the 495 domestic vegetable samples, representing 2.8% of that group, while one fruit sample was identified as violative. No violative samples were reported in the domestic milk/diary/egg or fish/shellfish/other aquatic product groups included in the cited results.

Imported Food Requires Particular Attention

Imported foods continue to be an important focus of FDA's pesticide monitoring program.

In FY 2024, 2,635 imported human food samples were analyzed, with 84.4% compliant with federal standards.

FDA explains that imported products are sampled using a risk-based approach.

Factors that can influence sampling priorities include:

• Historical problem areas
• Previous FDA findings
• State and federal monitoring information
• Foreign pesticide-use information
• Commodity-specific risks
• Country-specific compliance history

The higher violation rate observed in imported foods therefore does not necessarily represent the overall compliance level of all imported food. It reflects FDA's strategy of directing sampling resources toward products and sources considered more likely to present compliance concerns.

Animal Food Monitoring

FDA also analyzed 306 animal food samples during FY 2024.

The findings show:

• 93.5% compliance for domestic animal food samples
• 91.5% compliance for imported animal food samples
• No residues detected in 47.1% of domestic samples
• No residues detected in 42.5% of imported samples

FDA also conducted focused sampling of selected domestically produced animal-derived foods.

The agency analyzed 110 samples consisting of:

• 29 milk samples
• 34 shell egg samples
• 19 honey samples
• 28 game meat samples

No violative pesticide residues were found in these samples, and 93.6% contained no detectable pesticide residues.

What Are EPA Tolerances?

EPA tolerances are central to understanding FDA's pesticide monitoring results.

EPA tolerance establishes the maximum permitted level of a specific pesticide residue in or on a particular food.

FDA's monitoring program compares analytical results against these established regulatory limits.

A residue finding can therefore fall into different regulatory situations:

The distinction between a detectable residue and a regulatory violation is therefore important.

Detection of a pesticide does not automatically mean the food is non-compliant.

The regulatory assessment depends on the applicable tolerance, exemption and other requirements.

What Happens When FDA Finds a Violation?

When FDA identifies a pesticide residue exceeding an applicable tolerance or detects a pesticide for which no tolerance has been established, the agency may take regulatory action.

For domestic foods, actions may include working with manufacturers or growers to resolve the issue and taking steps to prevent non-compliant products from entering or remaining in the U.S. market.

For imported food shipments, violative products may be refused entry.

FDA may also place responsible firms or products on an Import Alert for Detention Without Physical Examination (DWPE) where applicable.

This makes pesticide residue compliance particularly important for companies exporting agricultural commodities and processed foods to the United States.

What Food Manufacturers and Importers Should Review

Companies supplying food to the U.S. market should consider a comprehensive pesticide residue compliance program.

Key areas include:

• Agricultural sourcing
• Approved pesticide use
• Supplier qualification
• Crop-specific pesticide controls
• Maximum residue levels
• Analytical testing
• Certificates of analysis
• Supplier declarations
• Import documentation
• Corrective actions
• Regulatory monitoring

Pesticide Residue Compliance Checklist

FDA’s Risk-Based Monitoring Approach

FDA's monitoring program does not simply test every food product at the same frequency.

Instead, the agency uses a risk-based sampling strategy.

This approach allows FDA to focus resources on:

• Foods consumed in significant quantities
• Foods important to infant and young-child diets
• Commodities with known compliance concerns
• Imported foods with elevated historical risks
• Countries or suppliers associated with previous findings
• Pesticides requiring targeted monitoring

FDA also conducts focused surveys and maintains its Total Diet Study, which is distinct from the regulatory monitoring program.

For food businesses, understanding this risk-based approach can help inform internal suppliers and test priorities.

2026 FDA Program Modernization

The FY 2024 report also comes in the context of FDA's broader modernization of its pesticide monitoring compliance program.

In May 2026, FDA announced updates intended to strengthen and modernize pesticide monitoring for domestic and imported human foods.

The updated program focuses exclusively on pesticide residues in human foods and includes strengthened risk-based sampling priorities, updated laboratory procedures and enhanced collaboration with regulatory partners. FDA stated that it monitors approximately 3,500 domestic and import samples annually for approximately 780 pesticides.

FDA has also moved toward a harmonized multi-analyte gas- and liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry approach in its regulatory laboratories to improve testing throughput and consistency.

Impact on Food Exporters to the United States

International food exporters should pay particular attention to U.S. pesticide requirements.

A food may comply with pesticide rules in its country of origin but still face U.S. compliance issues if:

• A pesticide is not permitted under the applicable U.S. tolerance framework
• The residue exceeds the U.S. EPA tolerance
• No applicable U.S. tolerance exists
• Agricultural practices differ from U.S. requirements
• Supplier documentation is incomplete

Exporters should therefore assess pesticide residue requirements specifically for the U.S. market, rather than if compliance with another country's maximum residue limits automatically establishes U.S. compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What did FDA find in its FY 2024 pesticide report?

FDA found that pesticide residue levels in the U.S. food supply were generally compliant with EPA-established pesticide tolerances. For human foods, 98.2% of domestic samples and 84.4% of import samples were compliant.

2. How many human food samples did FDA analyze?

FDA analyzed 3,528 human food samples, consisting of 893 domestic samples and 2,635 import samples.

3. How many pesticides were included in the monitoring program?

The program covered approximately 780 pesticides and selected industrial compounds.

4. Does detection of a pesticide automatically mean a violation?

No. A detected pesticide residue may still be compliant if it is within the applicable EPA tolerance. A violation may occur when residue exceeds a tolerance or when a pesticide is detected for which no applicable tolerance exists.

5. Does FDA test imported food?

Yes. Imported foods are a major component of FDA's pesticide residue monitoring program. In FY 2024, 2,635 imported human food samples were analyzed.

6. Why was the compliance rate lower for imported human foods?

FDA states that its risk-based sampling approach prioritizes imported products and countries with a greater likelihood of violative residues, based on factors including past problem areas, monitoring findings and foreign pesticide-use information.

7. What can happen if an imported food contains violative pesticide residues?

FDA may refuse entry and may use import alerts, including detention without physical examination, where applicable.

Conclusion

FDA's FY 2024 Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program Report provides important insight into pesticide residue compliance across the U.S. food supply.

The overall findings indicate that pesticide residue levels were generally compliant with EPA tolerances, with 98.2% of domestic human food samples and 84.4% of imported human food samples meeting federal standards.

At the same time, the results demonstrate why food companies particularly international exporters need effective pesticide residue management systems.

Companies should maintain robust supplier controls, pesticide specifications, analytical testing, EPA tolerance assessments, import controls and corrective-action procedures.

The FDA's continued modernization of its monitoring program further reinforces the importance of proactive and risk-based food chemical compliance.

How Maven Regulatory Solutions Can Help

Maven Regulatory Solutions can support food companies with:

• FDA pesticide residue compliance assessments
• EPA tolerance assessments
• U.S. food regulatory strategy
• Pesticide residue risk assessments
• Food ingredient compliance reviews
• Supplier compliance assessments
• Import compliance assessments
• Analytical testing strategy
• Maximum residue limit reviews
• Product specification development
• Certificate of Analysis review
• Regulatory gap assessments
• Import Alert compliance support
• Corrective and preventive action support
• FDA regulatory intelligence
• Food market-entry support

Our approach helps food manufacturers, exporters, importers and suppliers establish practical systems for pesticide residue compliance, U.S. market access and ongoing FDA regulatory readiness.