Sesame seeds.

-

Pixabay / TheUjulala

The case of the contaminated sesame coming from India concerns 100 countries in the world and 20 at European level.

"We are on an unprecedented scale (...)", underlined Laurent Duplomb, LR senator from Haute-Loire and author of a report on the subject, during a press conference.

Faced with this situation and to avoid importing products dangerous to health in the future, parliamentarians want to act.

This alert "must serve as a lesson", according to them.

The report proposes to tighten European controls by creating a “European DGCRRF”.

National controls could also be strengthened and European supplies favored.

Increasing the resources of DGCCRF can also be an avenue.

Quantities 3,700 times greater than authorized by Europe

This case of contaminated sesame dates back to last September when "an Italian operator detects that sesame seeds imported from India contain residues of ethylene oxide", classified as carcinogenic, it is stressed in the report in question.

This active substance has not been authorized for food use in the European Union since 1991.

The maximum residue limit is set at 0.05 mg / kg at European level.

Tests had reported a content of up to 186 mg / kg, or 3,700 times more than the authorized ceiling.

Its presence could be caused by a "preventive treatment by fumigation" which reduces the risks of the presence of salmonella, for example.

Nearly 1,040 have been recalled, more could follow

If no poisoning has yet been identified, according to Laurent Duplomb, many products have been recalled;

hummus, burgers, salads, rusks, chocolate or even flour for example.

In total, the recalls concerning 1,040 references, some of which are organic, said a spokesperson for the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF).

Currently in France, "we control all batches of sesame seeds that come from India to check that they are not contaminated with ethylene oxide, and as soon as they are, the batches do not circulate. in the market, ”the report said.

The controls on this carcinogenic substance may not stop at sesame.

Fabienne Loiseau, journalist for the magazine

60 Million Consumers

who investigated the subject, pointed out that other products which do not contain it would have tested positive for ethylene oxide.

Health

Salmonella: Les Magasins U recall a batch of peppers

Health

Listeria: Recall of pizzas sold in Auchan stores

  • Health

  • Food

  • India

  • Dgccrf

  • Trade