How long after spraying can you eat vegetables?
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Wait at least the pre-harvest interval printed on the product label for your crop and market. That interval is the minimum time between the last application and harvest, set so residues fall below the applicable limit by the time the crop is eaten. Low residue is not the same as no residue, and the label interval governs, not an impression that a material is gentle.
The short answer
Used as directed, on the crops the label covers, and observing the stated pre-harvest interval - yes. Low residue is not the same as no residue, and the interval on the label is the number that governs, not a general impression that a material is gentle.
Why does a pre-harvest interval exist?
A pre-harvest interval is the minimum time between the last application and harvest, set so residues fall below the applicable limit by the time the crop is eaten. It is a function of how fast that active degrades on that crop under normal conditions.
A re-entry interval is a different number answering a different question: how long before a person may enter the treated area. A product can have a zero-hour re-entry interval and still have a pre-harvest interval. Do not read one as the other.
How are children and households exposed?
For a household, the realistic exposures are a child entering a treated area before it has dried, and a child reaching stored concentrate. For produce, it is harvesting inside the pre-harvest interval, and washing that removes less than assumed.
Concentrate is the hazard that matters most in a domestic setting. Diluted spray at label rate and undiluted concentrate are not the same material.
How do you protect children and produce?
Keep children and pets out until treated surfaces are dry and the area has ventilated. Observe the pre-harvest interval on the label for your crop and market. Store concentrate closed, labeled, and out of reach - not decanted into an unlabelled container.
Where you grow for sale, check the residue limit that applies in your market, which may be stricter than the one where the product was registered.
When should you get advice?
If a child ingests concentrate or diluted spray, call the emergency number on the product label, or your national poison center. For questions about intervals in a specific crop or market, ask a Vegalab agronomist or your local extension service.
Which compounds are rated, and how?
Ratings come from the compound records, so the same vocabulary appears here and on each compound page.
| Compound | Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Geraniol | ok | Low residue and rapid degradation. Follow the label pre-harvest interval. |
Key takeaways
- The pre-harvest interval on the label is the number that governs when a crop can be harvested.
- A re-entry interval is a different number: how long before a person may enter the treated area.
- Keep children and pets out until treated surfaces are dry and the area has ventilated.
- Store concentrate closed, labeled and out of reach, never decanted into an unlabeled container.
- Growers selling produce should check the residue limit in their market, which may be stricter.
References
- Food Quality Protection Act of 1996
- 21 U.S.C. 346a Tolerances and exemptions for pesticide chemical residues - subsection (b)(2)(C)
- Summary of the Food Quality Protection Act
- Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin
- Pesticide Exposure in Children (policy statement)
- Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children
Frequently asked questions
How long after spraying can you eat vegetables?
Harvest only after the pre-harvest interval on the label for your crop and market has passed. The interval reflects how fast that active degrades on that crop under normal conditions, so it differs between products and crops.
Does washing remove residues?
Washing can remove less than people assume. Harvesting inside the pre-harvest interval and relying on washing is one of the realistic exposure routes for produce, so observe the label interval instead.
Is a re-entry interval the same as a pre-harvest interval?
No. A re-entry interval is how long before a person may enter the treated area, while a pre-harvest interval is the minimum time between the last application and harvest. A product can have a zero-hour re-entry interval and still have a pre-harvest interval.
Do residue limits differ for produce grown for sale?
They can. Where you grow for sale, check the residue limit that applies in your market, which may be stricter than the one where the product was registered.
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Products
No direct product mapping. This page examines a claim rather than a single ingredient, so no product maps to it directly.