Pests

Once wheat has been harvested, it needs to be kept in cool and dry conditions in clean stores to minimise the risk of attack by pests.  Common pests include insects, mites and fungi These are normally specific to grain stores and different to pests that may attack growing crops.  Guidance from organisations such as HGCA is available on how to manage stores to preserve quality and minimise the risk of attack by pests.

For many years, nabim members have participated in a nationwide scheme that tests grain for the presence of pesticide residues.  The proportion of samples containing residues has been falling over time and (when found) residues are normally at very low levels.  In recent years the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) has only rarely been exceeded in grain, and then only when the MRL is set at the limit of detection for the compound concerned.

It is important to remember that the MRL is set taking account of good agricultural practice, and is not itself a safety limit.  MRLs are normally far below the safety limits which are set taking account of the estimated tolerable daily intake of a compound.  Therefore even if a test result is above the MRL, it does not mean that there is a risk to consumers.