The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has warned the industry of the importation of peppers from Turkey and the Dominican Republic. The incoming produce was found to contain pesticide residues. The peppers from Turkey were stopped at the border of Bulgaria, revealing increased formetanate levels of 0,207 mg / kg. Formetanate is an insecticide and acaricide. It is typically used on alfalfa grown for seed and on some fruits including citrus, pome and stone fruits. The maximum permitted concentration is 0.05 mg / kg.
The peppers from the Dominican Republic have been destroyed by the Spanish authorities, as they were discovered to contain increased levels of carbendazim, in excess of 0.63 mg / kg. Only 0.1 mg / kg is allowed. Carbendazim is a fungicide primarily used to control plant diseases in cereals and fruits, including citrus, bananas, strawberries, pineapples, and pomes.
Source: hortoinfo
