According to research reviewed by Gram, dietary exposure to 11 neonicotinoid insecticides appears unlikely to pose significant health risks for adults or younger people in Hong Kong. Average and high consumers were exposed to less than 1% of the acceptable daily intake, even though 49% of 374 food samples contained traces of these chemicals.
Insecticides called neonicotinoids are widely used on crops and are chemically related to nicotine. A large food study in Hong Kong tested 374 mixed food samples and found traces of these chemicals in about half of them, mostly in grains, vegetables, beans and nuts, fruits, and seeds. Researchers then estimated how much people in Hong Kong actually eat in a day, including both typical eaters and people who eat the most of these foods. Even the highest estimates stayed below 1% of the daily amount considered safe over a lifetime. According to research reviewed by Gram, the findings suggest that these 11 chemicals are unlikely to pose a significant health risk to adults or younger people in Hong Kong. The study measured food, not people’s bodies, so it cannot rule out every possible effect. Still, the results offer a reassuring picture of everyday dietary exposure.
Key Statistics
A 2026 total diet study of Hong Kong food found that 183 of 374 composite food samples, or 49%, tested positive for neonicotinoid insecticides.
The same 2026 study estimated that average and high consumers, including the 90th percentile of intake, were exposed to less than 1% of the acceptable daily intake for these 11 neonicotinoids.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Researchers wanted to know how much of 11 common insecticides, called neonicotinoids, people in Hong Kong take in through the food they eat.
- Who participated: The study did not recruit people. Instead, researchers bought 187 commonly eaten foods, prepared them the way people usually eat them, and combined them into 374 test samples. They then used national-style food consumption data from local residents, covering adults and younger people, to estimate daily intake.
- Key finding: About half of the samples, 183 out of 374 (49%), contained at least one neonicotinoid. For average and high consumers, estimated intake was less than 1% of the amount considered safe each day.
- What it means for you: For most people in Hong Kong, the amount of these pesticides in regular food appears to be far below levels considered harmful. Eating a varied diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables still makes sense, and washing produce is a simple habit that can further reduce residues.
The Research Details
This study is part of the second Hong Kong Total Diet Study, a method that tests foods the way people actually prepare and eat them. Researchers collected 187 foods that local residents commonly consume, cooked or prepared them as they would at home, and blended related items into composite samples. This produced 374 samples, which were then tested for 11 neonicotinoid insecticides using a standard extraction method and a sensitive laboratory instrument that can detect very small amounts of chemicals.
To estimate how much people actually take in, the researchers combined these test results with food consumption data for the local population. They calculated exposure for average eaters and for high consumers, defined as people at the 90th percentile of intake, meaning they eat more than 90% of the population. These estimates were compared with the acceptable daily intake, a safety benchmark that represents the amount a person could consume every day over a lifetime without expected harm.
Because the researchers used upper-bound estimates, they assumed that foods containing residues were consumed at the highest plausible levels. This approach is deliberately cautious, so the real-world exposure is most likely lower than the reported figures.
A total diet study is useful because it reflects what people really eat rather than testing individual ingredients in isolation. Preparing foods as they are consumed captures any changes from cooking or washing, which gives a more realistic picture of exposure. Using upper-bound and high-consumer estimates also protects the people who might be most exposed. When even these cautious estimates stay well under safety limits, the reassurance is stronger than if only average eaters were considered.
The study used a well-established national food monitoring framework, a standard testing method, and a sophisticated laboratory technique. The large number of samples (374) and the wide range of foods tested add confidence. Findings are based on measured food residues and recorded consumption patterns rather than guesses. However, the study measured chemicals in food, not in people’s blood or urine, so it reflects estimated intake rather than confirmed body levels. The research was published in a peer-reviewed journal, which means independent experts reviewed it before publication.
What the Results Show
The most important result is that neonicotinoids were common in the food tested. Of the 374 composite samples, 183 contained at least one of these insecticides, a detection rate of 49%. This means roughly one in two samples had traces of these chemicals. Presence alone, however, does not indicate danger, because the amounts matter as much as whether a chemical is found at all.
The five most frequently detected chemicals were imidacloprid (37% of samples), clothianidin (37%), thiamethoxam (36%), acetamiprid (26%), and dinotefuran (21%). The first three were found at similar rates, and together they account for the bulk of the detections. These are all members of the same chemical family, so they are often tested together.
The residues were concentrated in plant-based foods. The main groups were cereals and their products, vegetables and their products, legumes, nuts, and seeds and their products, and fruits. This pattern makes sense because these chemicals are sprayed on crops during growing. It also means that people who eat a lot of plant foods will have more contact with them than people who eat fewer.
When researchers estimated how much people take in, the results were reassuring. For both average and high consumers, among adults and younger people, the upper-bound exposure estimates were all below 1% of the acceptable daily intake. The authors concluded that dietary exposure to these 11 neonicotinoids is unlikely to pose significant health risks for these groups in Hong Kong.
The study looked at 11 neonicotinoids, and it found that a handful accounted for most of the detections. Researchers also compared adults and younger people, and both groups showed exposure estimates far below the safety benchmark. This suggests that the conclusion holds across age groups, although the exposure margin is what matters most for reassurance. The concentration of residues in plant foods points to a practical message: the source of exposure is mainly the crops themselves, not processed or animal-based products. Because the study covered a wide range of commonly eaten foods, it gives a broad view of the local diet rather than a narrow snapshot.
Neonicotinoids have been used in agriculture since the late 1990s and have gradually replaced older insecticides such as organophosphorus pesticides and carbamates. Because of this widespread use, many countries monitor their residues in food. Findings from this Hong Kong study are broadly consistent with other food monitoring programs, which often detect these chemicals in fruits, vegetables, and grains while keeping typical exposure within regulatory limits. Some scientists have also raised concerns about possible effects on bees and other insects, and neonicotinoids have faced restrictions in some regions for environmental reasons. This study focuses on human dietary exposure rather than environmental impact, so it adds to the human health picture without addressing those broader concerns.
The study has several limitations that readers should keep in mind. First, it measured chemicals in food, not in people, so it estimates exposure rather than confirming how much actually entered the body. Second, the estimates depend on food consumption data and on how the foods were prepared, and real habits may vary from person to person. Third, the study tested 11 neonicotinoids. Other pesticides and other chemical families were not part of this analysis, so the results describe only this group. Fourth, the acceptable daily intake values are based on current scientific understanding, and new research could change them. Finally, the study does not measure long-term combined effects of many pesticides eaten together over many years, which remains an area of ongoing research.
The Bottom Line
Research shows that dietary exposure to these 11 neonicotinoids in Hong Kong is well below the daily safety benchmark for average and high consumers, which gives strong reassurance about typical diets (high confidence based on this study). Because residues are common on plant foods, washing fruits and vegetables under running water and eating a varied diet with many different foods are sensible habits that may further reduce exposure (moderate confidence, since the study did not directly test washing). People concerned about pesticide residues should keep eating fruits and vegetables, which provide nutrients that support health.
This research is most relevant to people living in Hong Kong, to parents of young children, and to anyone interested in how pesticide residues fit into everyday diets. Families with young children may want to pay extra attention to washing produce, since younger people can have different exposure patterns. People who eat very large amounts of plant foods are the high consumers the study examined, and the results suggest their exposure also remains below safety limits. Readers outside Hong Kong should be cautious about applying these exact numbers to their own food supply, since residue levels depend on local farming practices and regulations.
Changes in pesticide exposure from food are not something people can measure in their bodies on a short timeline, and this study does not track individual health over time. Any benefit from reducing exposure, such as washing produce or choosing a wider variety of foods, would build up gradually over years of normal eating. Most people do not need to make drastic changes based on this single study. Regulators and food safety programs monitor these chemicals on an ongoing basis, so future updates will likely offer more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pesticides in vegetables and grains safe to eat in Hong Kong?
A 2026 study of Hong Kong diets found that neonicotinoid residues were mostly in cereals, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and fruits. Estimated intake for average and high consumers stayed below 1% of safe daily limits, so significant health risks appear unlikely.
What are neonicotinoids and where are they found in food?
Neonicotinoids are insecticides used to protect crops from pests, and they are chemically related to nicotine. In a Hong Kong study, 49% of 374 food samples tested positive, with imidacloprid and clothianidin each found in 37% of samples, mainly in plant-based foods.
How much pesticide residue is considered safe to eat each day?
Regulators use an acceptable daily intake (ADI), the amount a person can consume every day over a lifetime without expected harm. In the Hong Kong study, estimated exposure for both average and high-consuming adults and younger people stayed under 1% of these ADI values.
Should I stop eating fruits and vegetables because of pesticide residues?
Based on this study, there is no evidence that eating fruits and vegetables poses a major risk from these insecticides. Rinsing produce under running water and eating a varied diet are sensible habits, and exposure was found to be well below safety limits.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track the number of servings of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and nuts you eat each day, aiming for a variety of at least five different plant foods per week. Also log whether you wash produce before eating it. These simple, measurable entries let you see your plant food intake and build a consistent habit.
- Use the app to set a daily reminder to rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, and to add one new vegetable, fruit, or whole grain to your meals each week. Varying your foods helps spread out exposure to any single pesticide while supporting a balanced diet.
- Review your logged plant food variety and washing habits monthly to spot patterns and gaps. Over the long term, a steady record of diverse, well-washed plant foods can support a balanced diet, and you can update your goals as new food safety guidance is published. Consult a healthcare professional or food safety authority if you have specific concerns about pesticide exposure.
This article summarizes a food monitoring study that estimated dietary exposure to pesticides and does not test individual people’s health. It is for general information only and is not medical or nutritional advice. Readers with specific health concerns, pregnancy, young children, or questions about pesticide exposure should speak with a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.