Antimicrobial activity of pesticide residue and implications of international MRLS in Indian and imported wines

Objectives: International food safety standards having a great interest in public health and setting legislative Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of the host country with respect to applied agrochemicals. India is the leading country known for its highest tonnage per hector grape yield due to the favorable microclimatic conditions. Present investigation aimed to determine pesticidal residues in International and Indian wine samples using various sophisticated biophysical instrumentation. Further, antimicrobial effect of these samples was to be assessed against various commensal pathogens.
Methods: Determination of pesticide residue in Indian and Imported wine samples and its comparison with respect to European Union (EU) MRLs was done. Pesticide residues in grapewine were detected by GC, GC/MS & LC-MS/MS.
Results: Majority of wine samples were found to be contaminated with different pesticides like Thiophanate Methyl Carbendazime, Metalaxyl, Trideminol Fenpyroximate, Endrin, Propargite and Chlorpyriphos-Methyl. Antimicrobial activity of pesticides was tested against E. coli,                   P. mirabilis, S. aureus and K. aerogenes. The result indicates that majority of the pesticides were more effective against P. mirabilis and S. aureus.
Conclusion: The result revealed that majority of the wine samples were contaminated by pesticides in the range 0.01 to 0.04 ppm, which is within the permissible limit as per EU norms. However, if the concentration of pesticide exceeds the permissible limit, there is a high risk of human health hazard. The present research will be helpful for the wine stack holders, policymakers and research community for planning the effective dissemination of technology and sensible use of pesticides in vineyards so as to prepare healthy and quality wines.