Weekly highlights at a glance (week 19, 2025)
Total recalls: 92 notifications across Europe-slightly up from last week, averaging over 13 recalls per day.
Countries of origin: 38 countries contributed to recalls, with Turkey (10), India (8), and Germany (7) most frequently flagged as origins of concern.
Top notifying countries: Germany (15), Italy (14), and France (11) led in reporting, with Belgium (9) and the Netherlands (8) close behind.
Risk assessment: Serious risk: 56.5% of all recalls were categorized as serious
Fresh produce alerts: A detailed analysis
Fresh produce accounted for 16.3% of total recalls this week, making it the top-most recalled product category along with nuts and seeds. The recalls span a concerning range of chemical contaminants, with unauthorized pesticides dominating the notifications.
- Pitahaya (Vietnam): Permethrin (unauthorised)
- Lemons (Turkey): Prochloraz
- Grapefruits (Turkey): Chlorpyrifos-methyl (unauthorised), Fenvalerate
- Green beans (Kenya): Acephate (unauthorised)
- Sweet mint (Egypt): Chlorpyrifos (unauthorised), Profenofos (unauthorised), Dimethoate
- Basil (Israel): Lufenuron
- Horn peppers (France): Chlorpyrifos, Thiabendazole
- Dried figs (Turkey): Aflatoxins
- Dried morel mushrooms (India): Anthraquinone, Chlorpyrifos
- Frozen peppers (China): Lead
- Frozen strawberries (Egypt): Oxamyl (unauthorised)
- Bitter gourd (Tanzania): Chlorothalonil (unauthorised), Chlorpyrifos (unauthorised)
- Urad dal flour (India): Mineral oil components (MOSH, MOAH)
- Chickpea flour (India): Mineral oil components (MOSH, MOAH)
- Sweet corn kernels (France): Leak-proof cans (no contamination noted)
Advice for fresh produce buyers
To help reduce the likelihood of contamination incidents and better navigate this week’s notable alerts, buyers and importers may wish to consider the following precautionary approaches:
1. Enhanced verification for high-risk origins
Countries such as Turkey, India, and Vietnam were among the most frequently flagged in recent notifications. When sourcing from these regions, it may be beneficial to adopt more thorough supplier evaluations and request detailed batch-level documentation.
2. Broader pesticide screening protocols
Given the variety of unauthorized and high-risk substances detected this week, including permethrin, chlorpyrifos, acephate, and oxamyl, buyers should revisit their testing programs. Leafy herbs, pulses, and tropical fruits were particularly affected, suggesting these categories could benefit from more comprehensive screening.
3. Alignment with EU standards on unauthorized substances
Some alerts involved substances not permitted under EU regulations. Keeping testing laboratories and procurement teams up to date on evolving regulatory standards may help ensure compliance and reduce the risk of rejected shipments.
4. Consideration of processing contaminants
The detection of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH and MOAH) in flours from India highlights the need to also consider risks introduced during processing and packaging. While pesticide screening remains essential, incorporating assessments of hygiene and material safety throughout the supply chain could provide an added layer of protection.
Top Tip: Consider sourcing from suppliers who provide full transparency on their pesticide application records and processing controls.
Key trends & interesting facts
Nuts, seeds, and fruits in the spotlight
Nuts, nut products and seeds led with 16 recalls, including significant cases such as aflatoxin B1 in:
- groundnut kernels from the United States
- almond kernels from the United States
- groundnuts from Argentina
- melon seeds from Nigeria
- pistachios from Iran
Fruits and vegetables followed closely with 15 recalls, featuring mineral oil in urad dal flour from India, lead in frozen peppers from China, and pesticide residues in sweet mint from Egypt and bitter gourd from Tanzania. Cereals and bakery products saw 10 recalls, including Salmonella in sesame seeds from India and chlorpyrifos in basmati rice from Italy.
Graph 1. Top 5 Product Categories with the Most RASFF Alerts
Aflatoxins: The Persistent Threat
Aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxins accounted for 17 notifications-nearly 1 in 5 recalls this week. The spike in aflatoxin-related recalls this week likely reflects seasonal or storage-related factors that favor fungal growth, particularly now that temperatures start to rise as summer approaches. Aflatoxin-producing molds thrive in warm, humid conditions, which can occur during harvest, transport, or storage, especially if controls are weak. The range of affected countries suggests a broader issue with post-harvest handling and climate-linked risks across supply chains.
Biological Hazards: Salmonella and Listeria
Salmonella was reported in
- sesame seeds from India,
- tahini from Italy
- poultry meat from Poland
- pasteurised whole egg from the Netherlands.
Listeria monocytogenes was detected in:
- raw milk cheese from Spain
- raclette cheese from Switzerland
- salmon products from Norway
- grated carrots with lemon juice from Belgium
Chemical Contaminants Rising
Several chemical hazards were flagged this week, with mineral oil (MOSH and MOAH), mercury, and a range of unauthorised pesticides dominating notifications.
Mineral oil contamination was repeatedly detected in flour products (chickpea, urad dal, urad bean) originating from India, accounting for the most frequent chemical-related alerts.
Mercury was found in frozen swordfish from Spain and Portugal, continuing to raise concerns about heavy metal accumulation in seafood.
Chlorpyrifos, a pesticide banned in many countries in the EU, appeared in diverse imports:
- Mixed residues) in dried morel mushrooms from India
- Chlorpyrifos and tricyclazole in sorghum flour from India
- Chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos in bitter gourd from Tanzania
Geographic Patterns
- Turkey was the most frequent country of origin for recalled products (10 notifications), particularly for dried figs, pistachios, and sesame seeds-often due to mycotoxins and Salmonella.
- India (8 recalls) and Germany (7) followed, with India notably linked to mineral oil and pesticide contamination in flours and spices.
- Italy and Poland each accounted for 6 recalls. Notable issues from Italy included pesticide contamination in basmati rice, Salmonella in tahini, and glass fragments in tomato sauce. Poland was linked to multiple poultry products contaminated with Salmonella, highlighting concerns in animal-origin food categories.
Graph 2. Top 5 Countries with the Most RASFF Alerts
