Effects of processing and cooking on the levels of pesticide residues in wheat samples

The effects of processing and cooking on the levels of pesticide residues in wheat samples were investigated for 13 pesticides in pre-harvest (Pre, 9 pesticides) and post-harvest (Post, 6 pesticides) samples. In the milling process, the transfer ratios (%, total pesticide residue amount in product/that in wheat grain) of wheat bran were greater than 70% and 80% for pre-harvest and post-harvest samples, respectively. The transfer ratios of flour ranged from 1.7% to 23% (Pre) and 4.0% to 11% (Post). There was no significant difference in transfer ratio among the pesticides investigated. The processing factors (Pf, the concentration (mg/kg) of pesticide in product/that in the wheat grain) of flour ranged from 0.030 to 0.40 (Pre) and 0.069 to 0.18 (Post). The values in pre-harvest samples were higher than those in post-harvest samples. Investigation of changes of pesticide residues during processing and/or cooking is useful not only to establish MRLs, but also to recognize actual levels of pesticide residues in food.