Unapproved pesticides found on most samples of Fresh Cilantro

Recent sampling of fresh cilantro conducted by the Dept. of Agriculture found at least 34 unapproved pesticides.

Cilantro is an herb used in various forms of cooking. It’s most popular in Latin American cuisine. Its seed is ground for coriander, a spice.

Regulators believe farmers may be confusing cilantro for flat-leaf, or Italian, parsley. That herb has a significantly higher number of pesticides approved for use, according to an L.A. Times report on the USDA findings.

Nearly all the 184 fresh cilantro samples collected by federal inspectors tested positive for at least one pesticide. L.A. Times discovered through the advocacy group Environmental Working Group, that 44 percent of those samples tested positive for at least one unapproved pesticide.

The Food and Drug Administration has recently warned cilantro growers to reduce the amount of food-borne bacteria on their produce, namely Salmonella. Several recalls on fresh cilantro have been announced already this year and the FDA said at least 28 recalls have been enacted due to Salmonella-contaminated cilantro since 2004.

The FDA said it will continue to monitor cilantro growers in coming seasons, especially in light of the USDA report on pesticides.