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# Cheap 'dipstick' test detects pesticides in foods in minutes
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/test_detects_pesticides_in_foods_2512090331/
- Published: 2009-12-25T15:20:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T12:37:25.000Z
- Description: Canadian scientists led by John Brennan report in Analytical Chemistry that their paper-based test strip detects minute amounts of pesticides in food and drink in under five minutes, as a cheap alternative to instruments that can take hours.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Environment, #vivvo-import

*By JImmy Downs*

Canadian scientists reported that they have developed a fast inexpensive dipstick test to identify small amounts of pesticides in foods and beverages.

The simple test that may be potentially used by consumers may show results in a matter of minutes, according to the study published in the ACS’s Analytical Chemistry.

John Brennan and colleagues note in their study report that convenient tests for detecting pesticides often use expensive and complex instruments and in some cases can take hours to complete a test.

The scientists have seen a need for a rapid yet cheap test that can find some applications in food and beverage industry.

In lab studies, the new paper-based test strip detects minute amounts of pesticides in a matter of less than 5 minutes.