An investigation from Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City Plant Protection Department has found high pesticide residue levels in imported Chinese apples, pears and tangerines, website Thanhniennews.com reported.

The story reported the department found at least 30% of the Chinese fruit analyzed contained excessive traces of pesticides, while samples from other countries contained almost no pesticides.

A department representative told the publication that 5-10 fruit samples from city wholesale markets were tested every day.

Vietnam Gardening Association vice chairman Dr. Vo Mai told Thanhniennews.com the ratio of contaminated Chinese fruit was "quite serious".

"Normally, pesticides stay in fruit five to seven days after being sprayed. But in these instances, they've persisted the long journey from China into Ho Chi Minh City; they were definitely sprayed too much," Mai was quoted as saying.

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