Parameter Table
| Parameter | Method | Measured | Turkish Codex Limit | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | ICP-MS | < 0.05 mg/kg | 2.00 mg/kg | Below limit |
| Cadmium (Cd) | ICP-MS | < 0.02 mg/kg | 1.00 mg/kg | Below limit |
| Arsenic (As) | ICP-MS | < 0.03 mg/kg | 1.00 mg/kg | Below limit |
| Mercury (Hg) | ICP-MS | < 0.01 mg/kg | 0.10 mg/kg | Below limit |
| Copper (Cu) | ICP-MS | 12.4 mg/kg | 150 mg/kg | Below limit |
| Chlorpyrifos | GC-MS/MS | Not detected (< 0.01 mg/kg) | 0.10 mg/kg | Negative |
| Endosulfan | GC-MS/MS | Not detected (< 0.01 mg/kg) | 30 mg/kg | Negative |
| Thiamethoxam | LC-MS/MS | Not detected (< 0.01 mg/kg) | 20 mg/kg | Negative |
| Imidacloprid | LC-MS/MS | Not detected (< 0.01 mg/kg) | 50 mg/kg | Negative |
| Acetamiprid | LC-MS/MS | Not detected (< 0.01 mg/kg) | 50 mg/kg | Negative |
| Carbendazim | LC-MS/MS | Not detected (< 0.01 mg/kg) | 0.10 mg/kg | Negative |
| Glyphosate | LC-MS/MS | Not detected (< 0.05 mg/kg) | 2.00 mg/kg | Negative |
| Bifenthrin | GC-MS/MS | Not detected (< 0.01 mg/kg) | 5.00 mg/kg | Negative |
| Cypermethrin | GC-MS/MS | Not detected (< 0.01 mg/kg) | 20 mg/kg | Negative |
| Deltamethrin | GC-MS/MS | Not detected (< 0.01 mg/kg) | 5.00 mg/kg | Negative |
| Clothianidin | LC-MS/MS | Not detected (< 0.01 mg/kg) | 70 mg/kg | Negative |
| Tebuconazole | LC-MS/MS | Not detected (< 0.01 mg/kg) | 50 mg/kg | Negative |
Note: "Not detected" indicates that the pesticide stayed below the device limit of detection (LOD); it does not mean exactly zero, but it qualifies as a negative result under Turkish food codex regulations.
Accredited Method Notes
An "independent" report only holds weight if the laboratory is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited and uses internationally recognised reference methods. The three core methods used in the Yaprakzade report are outlined below.
🔬 ICP-MS (Heavy Metals)
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The sample is digested in nitric acid, ionised in plasma and separated by mass/charge ratio. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury and copper are measured at the parts-per-billion level. Reference method: TS EN 15763.
⚗️ GC-MS/MS (Volatile pesticides)
Gas Chromatography — Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Preferred for thermally stable organophosphate, organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides (chlorpyrifos, endosulfan, deltamethrin). Reference: TS EN 15662 (QuEChERS preparation).
🧪 LC-MS/MS (Polar pesticides)
Liquid Chromatography — Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Used for polar / thermally sensitive pesticides including neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, acetamiprid), azoles (tebuconazole), carbamates and glyphosate. Reference: TS EN 15662 + AOAC 2007.01.
📑 ISO/IEC 17025
The international standard for the technical competence of testing laboratories. Laboratories accredited by TÜRKAK (Bursa Food Control, TÜBİTAK MAM) comply with this standard; reports fall under the ILAC-MRA mutual recognition agreement between countries.
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Are any heavy metal limits exceeded in Yaprakzade tea?
No. Lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury values measured by ICP-MS are all well below the Turkish Food Codex limits. Detailed results are in the table above; the raw report is published as a downloadable PDF.
Which pesticide parameters are tested?
12 main parameters most frequently encountered in Turkish tea are scanned by accredited GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS methods: organophosphates (chlorpyrifos, glyphosate), neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin), pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin) and the azole group (tebuconazole).
Is this report comparable to the Cognimore report?
When the same accredited method (ISO 17025) is run on different samples, reports are scientifically comparable. Each brand publishes its own batch report; Yaprakzade publishes the independent report on the site every harvest season as a PDF, and shares batch-specific reports with corporate customers on request.
How often is the report renewed?
Twice a year — after the spring and summer harvests. The accredited laboratory (Bursa Food Control, TÜBİTAK MAM) draws independent samples; results are published within 10-14 days. Our own quality-control laboratory keeps daily weight-moisture-taste records in between.
How is the sample selected?
Five pouches are randomly drawn from each batch (roughly 200 kg), blended, and split into two independent 50 g samples. One goes sealed to the accredited laboratory, the other is retained for 6 months in our archive. This satisfies ISO 17025 sample integrity rules.