Reduction of Pesticide Residues in the Production of Red Pepper Powder

Reduction of Pesticide Residues in the Production of Red Pepper Powder

Six organophosphorus, one organochlorine, and three synthetic pyrethroid pesticides were analyzed for their residues during washing and hot-air drying of red peppers conducted in the production of powder. The residue ratio in organophosphorus pesticides was 33% in chlorpyrifos, 31 % in diazinon, 50% in methidathion, 80% in EPN, 28% in fenitrothion, and 60% in profenofos. The ratio in pyrethroids was 109% in cypermethrin, 102% in deltamethrin, and 106% in fenvalerate. That in organochlorine was 56% in ${\alpha}$-endosulfan and 90% in ${\beta}$-endosulfan. The results were greatly different between organophosphorus and pyrethroid pesticides. UV irradiation along with hot-air drying brought about a remarkable reduction of the residues, up to 70% as compared with hot-air drying only. The removal effect was most remarkable in pyrethroids, which are hardly removed by hot-air drying. The color of the pepper was not changed during UV irradiation. The use of oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide or chlorine dioxide during washing did not show a remarkable removal of residues. The residue ratio was not affected whether the pesticide is contaminated artificially or naturally.