The purpose of this study is to investigate pesticide residues in the imported and domestic tea sold in Turkey and to detect their compliance with maximum residue limits (MRL) and Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). A total of 79 samples were analyzed by using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS devices with AOAC 2007.01 method to investigate 603 pesticide residues. According to the results, pesticide residues were found in a total of 28 tea samples. Pesticide residues were found in the countries of origin at the rates as follows: Iran (100%), India (33.3%) and Sri Lanka (17.3%). No pesticide residue was detected in the tea produced in Turkey. The compounds such as Diuron, Ethion, Cypermethrin, Thiacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Fenpyroximate, Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, Flubendiamide, Deltamethrin and Hexythiazox were detected in positive samples. Seven types of pesticide residues exceeded the MRL determined by the Turkish Food Codex for 15 types (53.57%) for 28 samples with pesticide residue detected. Additionally, 4 types of pesticide residues were determined to exceed the ADI determined by the Codex Alimentarius for 13 (46.42%) of 28 samples with pesticide residue detected. These results have showed that the imported tea entering Turkey was not adequately analyzed in the customs control laboratories or the maximum residual limits were not clearly determined.
Keywords: Turkey; black tea; imported tea; pesticide residues.