The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has released the results of a survey, which found that all of the more than 1,000 food samples tested contained no propylene oxide (PPO) and were safe for human consumption.
PPO is chemical which is used as a fumigant for food and for industrial applications. Although the chemical not registered for use as a fumigant/insecticide in Canada it has been used on on dried fruits, nuts and spices in the US.
In 2009, Health Canada set a maximum residue limit (MRL) of 300 ppm for PPO in almonds and is currently in the process of establishing new MRLs for the entire tree nut crop group.
In the previous studies conducted by the CFIA in 2009-2010, 2010-2011, none of the samples were found to have PPO, and no recalls were necessary.
