Spice recall: Prohibited pesticide discovered on well-known brand

An organic retailer is currently warning about a popular spice.

The affected product is contaminated with 2-chloroethanol, a breakdown product of the carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide.

Germany - Like hardly any other spice, turmeric has managed to develop into a real trend food in recent years.

The substance curcumin it contains has been examined in numerous studies.

Among other things, it is said to have positive effects on the stomach and intestines as well as anti-inflammatory properties.

However, the organic retailer

now warning

against turmeric powder: It should no longer be consumed, as reported by RUHR24 *.

Recall due to pesticide residues in organic products - this turmeric powder is affected

The company explains that 2-chloroethanol residues are found in the affected product during controls.

The breakdown product of the pesticide ethylene oxide, which is banned in the EU, is considered questionable.

It is the following turmeric powder:

• Product: organic turmeric powder

• Manufacturer: Vom Achterhof

• Batches: VAKUR20210517 to VAKUR20210722

• Sales period: May 18, 2021 to July 31, 2021 

As the company emphasizes, there have been no reports of customers who have experienced negative health effects after consuming the product.

Rather, the product is called back "as a precaution" and "voluntarily" - customers should "dispose of" it.

+

Spice recall: The product is contaminated with a substance of concern.

(Symbol image)

© Jiri Hera / Zoonar / dpa;

Collage: RUHR24

Recall of turmeric powder: Potential health risk from pesticide residues

However, acute health problems caused by ethylene oxide are generally not to be expected.

Rather, there is only a long-term risk when consuming foods contaminated with the prohibited pesticides.

According to the Federal Office for Risk Assessment (BfR), ethylene oxide is carcinogenic and mutagenic.

Particularly sensitive: According to the BfR, a permitted consumption amount without any health risk can not be defined (further recalls and warnings * on RUHR24).

Health hazard from 2-chloroethanol - the data situation is unclear

For the degradation product 2-chloroethanol, however, the data situation is more unclear, explains the institute.

For example, studies with regard to mutagenic properties would come to different results.

However, due to a lack of data, a risk cannot be ruled out here either.

Therefore, residues of the degradation product of ethylene oxide are generally undesirable.

Recalls due to banned pesticide ethylene oxide - organic products also affected

Since autumn 2020 there have been repeated recalls in Germany due to contamination with ethylene oxide *.

Contaminated food is increasingly entering the EU through imports - even though the EU tightened import conditions in October 2020.

For example, tablets are currently being recalled because of ethylene oxide *.

For this reason, it is also warned against a dietary supplement *.

The fact that, as in the current case, even organic products are affected by the contamination is particularly frightening.

Because consumers actually expect from organic quality food that it is not contaminated with pesticides - especially not with forbidden ones.

*

List of rubric lists: © Sara Lemel / dpa;

Collage: RUHR24