What constitutes illegal residue?

The definition of illegal residue centers around the concept of legal tolerances set by regulatory agencies regarding pesticide use on food crops. When pesticide levels exceed the legally established tolerance levels at the time of harvest, they are considered illegal residues. This is significant because tolerances are established to ensure that any pesticide residues on food are safe for consumers, based on scientific data.

If a farmer is found to have harvested crops containing pesticide levels higher than these mandated tolerances, those crops cannot be legally sold for human consumption. This not only poses health risks but also can lead to serious legal repercussions for growers and distributors. Thus, the presence of pesticide residues that go beyond these permissible limits directly correlates with regulatory compliance and food safety, confirming why exceeding legal tolerance levels at harvest is classified as illegal residue.