The European Union's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (Rasff) has issued a serious health alert related to oranges from Egypt destined for the Spanish market. The alert was issued after authorities detected residues of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide banned by the European Commission since 2020 due to its risks to human health.
The tests have revealed the oranges had a concentration of 0.086 mg/kg-ppm of chlorpyrifos, surpassing the maximum allowed limit of 0.01 mg/kg-ppm. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide used in the control of various pests. Exposure to it can seriously affect the nervous system and is especially dangerous for children. Symptoms of exposure to this compound include blurred vision, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, loss of coordination, tightness in the chest, and, in extreme cases, paralysis.
Rasff recommends that the population exercise a high degree of caution when purchasing fruits from Egypt and avoid consuming oranges contaminated by this pesticide.
Source: elcorreo.com