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Residue Limits
Residue Limits
Regulatory residue limits define what is legally tolerable, not what is biologically optimal. We examine how those thresholds are set, what they account for, and where their assumptions leave gaps.
Residue Limits
Residue Limits
Regulatory residue limits define what is legally tolerable, not what is biologically optimal. We examine how those thresholds are set, what they account for, and where their assumptions leave gaps.
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Residue Limits Explained
Fare's Philosophy
Our Target Residue Limits
Residue Limits Explained
A breakdown of how chemical residue thresholds are determined, what they are designed to protect against, and where their limitations begin.
What are residue limits?
Most food safety regulations allow measurable residues of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, antibiotics, and industrial contaminants in food.
These limits are set by regulatory agencies and are designed to:
Prevent acute toxicity
Manage population-level risk
Regulate chemical use, not food purity
A residue limit is a risk threshold, not a guarantee of absence.
Why 'within limits' does not mean optimal
Regulatory residue limits are built on assumptions that do not reflect how people actually eat or live.
Cumulative exposure
Residue limits are typically assessed one chemical at a time, yet diets involve:
Repeated daily exposure
Multiple chemicals at once
Long-term accumulation over years
Sensitive populations
Regulatory standards are designed for the general population, not for:
Children
Pregnant women
People with chronic illness
Health-conscious individuals
For these reasons, avoidable exposure matters, even at low levels.
Fare's philosophy
A framework built around reducing avoidable exposure and elevating product-level accountability beyond minimum regulatory compliance.
Our residue limit philosophy
Food safety today is built around what is legally tolerable, not what is biologically optimal.
We reject the idea that daily consumption of detectable synthetic chemicals should be normalized simply because it falls below a legal threshold.
Our position
If a contaminant provides no nutritional benefit,
and its presence can be avoided through sourcing,
and its absence can be verified through modern testing,
then it does not belong in food.
We believe the safest food is food without toxic chemicals.
Why Fare sets target residue limits
Fare sets target residue limits to eliminate avoidable exposure and verify purity where modern science allows.
This is a new safety standard.
Synthetic chemicals are artifacts of industrial systems, not inherent elements of nutrition.
Fare is not refining existing limits.
We are replacing the premise behind them.
For these reasons, avoidable exposure matters, even at low levels.
Our Target Residue Limits
We set measurable residue limits based on toxicological risk assessment and comparative regulatory standards, ensuring each product is screened against clearly defined safety thresholds.
Agrochemical Residues
Pesticides, Herbicides & Fungicides
325 Analytes
Multi-residue panel (Pesticides, Herbicides, Fungicides)
See Full List
Target Residue Limit
Product-level maximum residue concentration (ppb).
0 ppb
Industrial Metals
Heavy Metals
4 Analytes
Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic
See Full List
Target Residue Limit
Product-level maximum residue concentration (ppb).
≤ .20 ppm
Hormones
Hormones
28 Analytes
Diethylstilbestrol (DES), Dienestrol, 17-alpha-Ethinylestradiol, Progesterone, 17-alpha, Hydroxyprogesterone, Medroxyprogesterone, Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (MPA), Melengestrol Acetate (MGA), Melengestrol (free), Megestrol, and more
See Full List
Target Residue Limit
Product-level maximum residue concentration (ppb).
0 ppb
Antibiotics
Antibiotics
32 Analytes
Penicillin G, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Cloxacillin, Cephapirin, Cefalexin, Oxytetracycline, Tetracycline, Chlortetracycline, Doxycycline, Erythromycin, Tylosin, Tulathromycin, Sulfamethazine, Sulfadiazine, Sulfamethoxazole, and more
See Full List
Target Residue Limit
Product-level maximum residue concentration (ppb).
0 ppb
Nutrient Composition
Nutrient Profile
29 Analytes
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B7, Vitamin B9, Vitamin B12, Calcium, Potassium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Iron, Sulfur, Magnesium, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Selenium, Total polyphenols, β carotene, Anthocyanins, Lycopene, Chlorophyll
Target Nutrient Density
A defined baseline for vitamin, mineral, and phytonutrient density per tested product.
1.5x - 3x*
*Nutrient-specific value
The first fully transparent food
label for farmers and producers
Become a Fare verified producer today and equip your products with the first fully transparent label, designed to prove quality, build loyalty and trust, and drive consumer demand.
The first fully transparent food
label for producers and farmers
Become a Fare verified producer today and equip your products with the first fully transparent label, designed to prove quality, build loyalty and trust, and drive consumer demand.
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© 2025 Fare (Fare Inc.)
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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For Institutions
For Producers
Stay in touch
© 2025 Fare (Fare Inc.)
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Support
For Institutions
For Producers
Stay in touch
© 2025 Fare (Fare Inc.)
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.