Pesticides detected in pomegranates exported by Turkey

Pesticides exceeding limits have been detected in food products exported from Turkey to the European Union.

Pesticides used in agricultural production are known as agricultural poisons that eliminate insects, weeds, and fungi.

The European Union uses a system called the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) to protect public health in food and feed trade. 

According to a report on Gidadedektifi.com, the report published by RASFF on March 21 stated that four different pesticides exceeding accepted limits were detected in pomegranates exported from Turkey to 

Germany . The findings revealed high levels of the chemicals Acetamiprid, Imazalil, Propiconazole, and Sulfoxaflor

in the products.Following the RASFF report, all products containing pesticides at levels harmful to human health were recalled in Germany starting March 21, bringing to mind 4-year-old

Saliha Çakır, who lost her life in 2019 after eating a pomegranate. Saliha Çakır , who lived in the Yenihisar district of Kayseri , had passed away after eating a pomegranate her father bought from a street vendor on the roadside. Two years after her death, the Forensic Medicine Report revealed that 

Saliha Çakır had died due to the agricultural pesticide sprayed on the pomegranate. The report unanimously concluded: “Substances from the pesticide group were detected in the pomegranate peels and samples reported to have been eaten by the child, and it is accepted that the child's death occurred as a result of agricultural pesticide poisoning.”

PRODUCTS ARE BEING RECALLED IN EUROPE

While little Saliha lost her life due to poisoning from a pomegranate she ate 4 years ago, today, high levels of pesticides are being detected in products Turkey exports to the European Union, and these products are being recalled from the market.

RETURNS FROM EUROPE TO TURKEY HAVE TRIPLED

Meanwhile, the number of products returned from Europe to Turkey due to pesticides has tripled. 

THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY'S 2021 STATEMENT

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, in a statement shared with BBC Turkish in 2021, states that returned products are not placed on the market in violation of regulations.

"Official controls are carried out on products exported from our country and returned for any reason (due to pesticide residues, quarantine pests, commercial disputes, or other reasons) within the scope of Article 34, Paragraph 8 of the Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food and Feed Law No. 5996, taking into account the reason for the return. Samples are taken from the product at our country's entry customs; if the returned product is fresh fruit or vegetable, it is checked for both quarantine pests (plant health) and pesticide residues (food safety), and products that do not comply with our country's legislation are not permitted to enter the country."

Notifications received from the European Union within the scope of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) are closely monitored by our Ministry's National Contact Points, and incoming notifications are promptly examined, with efforts initiated to identify the source of the error. The work carried out by our Ministry is reported to the commission. The producer/exporter receiving the notification and the subject of the notification

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