CVUA Stuttgart: maximum residue levels exceeded in 4 of 17 samples of dried chickpeas (2,4-D, phosphonic acid, phosphine), while canned chickpeas averaged 0.02 mg/kg of residues against 0.37 mg/kg in dried ones
On 6 October 2026 the Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office Stuttgart (CVUA Stuttgart) published the results of 21 chickpea samples tested from 2025 to July 2026 for pesticide residues and contaminants: 17 samples of dried chickpeas and 4 of ready-to-eat canned chickpeas (the whole can content was analysed).
- The mean residue content (excluding phosphonic acid and bromide) was 0.37 mg/kg in dried chickpeas and 0.02 mg/kg in canned ones, with on average 1.8 and 1.5 substances detected per sample. CVUA excludes phosphonic acid and bromide from the mean because they often occur at high levels and may come from sources other than plant protection products (bromide also from soil), but checks their compliance with maximum residue levels like any other substance.
- Exceedances were confirmed in 4 of the 14 conventional dried samples: a Canadian sample with 2,4-D at 0.12 mg/kg (maximum residue level for chickpeas without pods 0.05 mg/kg); another Canadian sample with phosphonic acid at 13.2 mg/kg (MRL 1.5 mg/kg) plus an unconfirmed exceedance for paraquat; a Romanian sample with phosphine at 0.15 mg/kg (MRL 0.01 mg/kg) plus an unconfirmed exceedance for sulfoxaflor; and a sample of unknown origin with phosphine at 0.029 mg/kg. In the other dried samples phosphine was 0.002–0.007 mg/kg.
- All 4 canned samples complied. The herbicide 2,4-D was found in the 3 conventional cans (mean 0.007 mg/kg against an MRL of 0.05 mg/kg), 2 of which also contained phosphonic acid; the single organic can contained only melamine, at 0.04 mg/kg against a maximum level of 2.5 mg/kg (Regulation (EU) 2023/915). CVUA attributes the lower residues in cans probably to soaking, cooking and preserving and to dilution by the higher water content.
- Three dried samples had no residues above the limit of quantification. Two organic samples contained phosphonic acid (0.390 and 0.250 mg/kg) — below the MRL, but as it may not be used in organic farming, an expert opinion was prepared for each to clarify the cause. The dried samples came from Turkey (7), Canada (2), Italy, Romania and Uzbekistan (1 each), with 5 of unstated origin. According to CVUA, none of the samples posed a health risk.
Source: CVUA Stuttgart — Pestizidrückstände trüben die Kichererbsen-Bilanz (6.10.2026)