Moroccan Consumer Group Tests Dates for Pesticides Amid Health Concerns

"In order to avoid any inaccuracy, the Moroccan Federation of Consumer Rights has randomly taken samples of dates from the Casablanca wholesale market according to the following specifications and data: the price per kilogram varies between 25 and 40 dirhams, the dates are packaged and all bear the necessary information (type, source, importer, expiry date, etc.)," the federation said in a statement, noting that the dates in bulk have not been subjected to analysis. "As it is a mixture of different types, it is difficult to establish the nature of their danger," the federation explains.

The conclusions of the analysis are now known. According to the federation, the dates imported from Tunisia, Algeria, and Saudi Arabia comply with international standards regarding pesticide residues. The dates imported from the United Arab Emirates, on the other hand, contain a high percentage of parasites. However, they are free of carcinogenic pesticide residues that could be harmful to the consumer’s health.