Fera’s food experts are able to analyse for maleic hydrazide within your food sample. Maleic hydrazide is a plant growth regulator, used to suppress growth and to induce dormancy in some crops. It is mostly used to reduce sprouting in stored crops, such as potatoes, onions, shallots and garlic.

Maleic hydrazide is regulated in crops to ensure correct use and to minimise consumer exposure. This results in strict maximum residue levels (MRLs) outlined by regulatory bodies to ensure traces of these pesticides do not reach harmful levels, either for humans or the ecosystem.

In the UK, over 80 tonnes of maleic hydrazide were applied during 2015 alone. Although through good farming practises, pesticide residue levels are usually below the regulatory limits, yet the risk of MRL exceedances remains if not used in accordance with Good Agricultural Practice (GAP). Feras food safety experts make use of novel analysis methods to highlight the levels of pesticides such as maleic hydrazide across a range of samples and mitigate the risks of non-compliance with regulatory limits.

The food safety experts at Fera can measure residues of maleic hydrazide in food samples with a target level of detection (LOD) of 1.0 mg/kg, meeting both EU and international regulatory regulations governing MRLs. Samples can be rapidly analysed and results returned to you as fast as 10 working days after receipt of sample. Faster turnaround time is available on request.

Fera has a long history of providing surveillance and monitoring services for pesticides, as well as a reputation for developing and validating new testing methods. Our experts are proficient in current regulation, making Fera the ideal partner, trusted to deliver precise and quality results and help with interpretation of the findings. Fera holds EU National Reference Laboratory status for pesticide residues.