European Food Safety Alert on Moroccan Peppers
The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) operated by the European Commission has issued a serious notification regarding pesticide residues detected in a shipment of peppers imported from Morocco via Spain. This alert, updated in mid-April, falls under the EU's health monitoring system and highlights the ongoing commitment to food safety across member states.
According to the official notification numbered 2026.2980, the substance "Avermectin B1a" was found during an internal inspection conducted by a company, rather than through border control checks or as a result of a health incident related to consumption. Laboratory analyses revealed pesticide residues at a concentration of 0.13 mg/kg, which prompted the European system to classify this finding as a "serious risk." However, the report did not specify the maximum allowable limits for this substance nor outline any potential health effects associated with this concentration.
In response to this alert, German authorities reported the situation to the relevant agencies, ensuring that the shipment was not distributed within their territory, thus preventing any possible exposure to consumers. As a transit country, Spain has also taken precautionary measures to enhance surveillance of such products. Notably, there have been no reported cases of illness or symptoms related to this shipment, and the nature of the risk remains undefined based on the notification's details. This alert is part of a European mechanism for the immediate exchange of information regarding food safety and does not necessarily indicate an actual risk or suggest that the product has been distributed within the market.
As reported by larazon.es.
