One in two packs of oregano in Europe is adulterated

Published 2021년 11월 26일

Tridge summary

A recent investigation by the European Commission and national authorities in 21 Member States, Switzerland, and Norway revealed a concerning issue within the herbs and spices sector, with oregano being the most commonly adulterated spice at a rate of 50%. Other herbs and spices such as pepper, cumin, turmeric, saffron, and paprika/chilli were also found to be contaminated or substituted with less expensive alternatives. This investigation aims to protect consumers from fraud and health risks, calling for immediate action from operators and increased regulatory control by national authorities. The findings build on previous investigations in the UK and Denmark, highlighting the need for enhanced oversight in the herbs and spices market.

This article is part of the 'News' category and may be related to 'Europe', 'Food Safety', 'Health', and 'Investigations'. It is important to note that the information provided is a summary and may not necessarily reflect the author's perspective or opinions.

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Original content

One in two packs of oregano in Europe is adulterated. And more often than not, instead of the much-flavored spice it contains ground olive leaves. It is one of the most salient results of the control plan coordinated by the European Commission and launched by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety. This is the first time that national authorities in charge of food controls and the European Commission combine their experiences and resources to focus on the herb and spice sector. The goal, of course, is to protect consumers from fraud and potentially dangerous products. And this made it possible to collect, in 21 Member States plus Switzerland and Norway, nearly 10,000 analyzes on 1885 samples, using a series of state-of-the-art analytical techniques to evaluate the authenticity of six different herbs and spices. In addition to oregano, 17% of the pepper analyzed was found to be adulterated, 14% of cumin, 11% of turmeric, 11% of saffron and 6% of paprika / chilli. The ...

Source: Ilsalvagente