Metal Contamination Sparks EU-Wide Alert on Moroccan Cherry Tomatoes

The detection was made by a Dutch company during an internal check. In accordance with the procedure, the national health authorities were informed and ordered the product to be withdrawn from the market, while activating the European alert system to notify the shipper and other Member States.

The RASFF notification has been transmitted to several other countries where the cargo has been distributed. Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom are concerned, and must now apply the required preventive measures.

The authorities specify that the alert was issued in a preventive framework and that to date, no cases of poisoning related to the consumption of these tomatoes have been reported. This incident concerns one of Morocco’s main agricultural exports to the European Union, its primary commercial market.