Mercury Concerns Raised in Moroccan Canned Tuna, Lawmaker Calls for Investigation

These studies, conducted by independent bodies, analyzed 148 cans of tuna from five European countries (France, Germany, England, Spain and Italy). The verdict is clear: all the samples contained mercury levels considered worrying.

This revelation is worrying Moroccans, where canned tuna is a very consumed food. The deputy is therefore urging the Minister of Maritime Fisheries, Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Forests to conduct an investigation to shed full light on this matter.

In 2019, a batch of canned tuna in sunflower oil from the Dia brand had been contaminated by the botulinum toxin in Spain, causing the intoxication of a family. Although withdrawn from sale in Spain, this product was smuggled into Morocco where it could be found in stores. Moroccan consumers were therefore called to be vigilant. The alert specifically concerned batch 19/154 023 02587 of 900 gram tuna in oil. Botulinum toxin, responsible for botulism, is a dangerous neurotoxin that can cause progressive paralysis.