EU alleges suspected fraud in local pineapple exports

By Wisdom JONNY-NUEKPE The European Union (EU) has aired suspicions of fraud in local pineapples exported from Ghana into the European market. In its January 2024 Report on EU Agri-Food Fraud Suspicions, local pineapple exports from the country to Belgium have been alleged to contain an overdose of ethephon. Ethephon is a plant growth regulator used to promote fruit-ripening, coloration, abscission, flower induction and other responses including high yields. Imported pineapples with non-European origins are subject to a legal residue limit. The maximum residue limit for ethephon on pineapples in Europe is 2.0 mg/kg; however, that from Ghana was detected to contain 2.4 mg/kg of the acid. The document explained that the purpose of EU Agri-Food Fraud suspicions’ monthly report is to implement an official regulation which requires the organisation of risk-based controls to identify and combat fraudulent and deceptive practices along agri-food chains in the EU. The report noted that it ...