Batch of Peruvian avocados with too high cadmium content intercepted in the Netherlands

Dutch health authorities have withdrawn a batch of avocados from Peru due to a high cadmium content, European food watchdog RASFF reported on March 21. The case is considered serious by the RASFF. 0.054 mg/kg - ppm of this heavy metal was found in the fruit, while the maximum allowed level is 0.050 mg/kg - ppm. Luis Gomero, president of the Peruvian Agroecological Consortium (CAP), warns that not only will the image of the Peruvian agro-export industry be dented in the European market by this interception, but also that there is a risk to local consumers, who do not know what they are consuming. "Cadmium is a heavy metal whose negative health effects have been widely demonstrated. That is why maximum permissible limits have been set for this substance in international trade. The presence of cadmium has already raised a lot of concern among cocoa farmers and now avocado cultivation is added, the acreage of which in Peru is still growing strongly." How did the cadmium get into the ...