• Question: Have you ever tested apples for MRL?

    Asked by ryan1234 to Christine, Edd, Jess, Nicolas, Zara on 16 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Christine Switzer

      Christine Switzer answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      I haven’t done any MRL testing with apples per se, but I have just finished a pilot project on contamination in urban gardens. We chose to study lettuces and carrots. We looked for metals and some heavy organics (residues from burning things like petrol or diesel) and found some problems in the urban sites. Lead was a common metal and it affected the carrots. I was surprised but the lettuces didn’t seem to mind it. Some of the fuel by-products seemed like a problem, too. I would like to do a follow-up study and I have a meeting scheduled with a potential funder. We would like to include pesticides and bacteria in the larger study, and more garden spaces. Please keep your fingers crossed for me that the funder is as excited about the project as I am!

    • Photo: Nicolas Biber

      Nicolas Biber answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      OK I have never worked in any field that relates to the contamination of food, so my answer is no 🙂 … Now you made me try and think of a way how to do this! 😛

    • Photo: Edward Codling

      Edward Codling answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      I think this is a question for some of the other scientists!

      However, away from my job, I like to grow fruit and vegetables in my garden (and we have chickens as well). I don’t use any chemicals at all so all the food that we grow ourselves is organic!
      🙂

    • Photo: Zara Gladman

      Zara Gladman answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      Nope, sorry! That isn’t my subject area 🙂 maybe someone else can help you!

    • Photo: Jessica Chu

      Jessica Chu answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      this isn’t my area either so i haven’t! But I like apples 🙂

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