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Spanish health authorities warn against eating watermelons from Morocco
The fruit shipped to Spain contains dangerous levels of insecticide
Arguably the most popular fruit during the summer months in Spain, watermelon crops have been decimated by heavy spring rains and hail storms followed by punishing heatwaves. As a result, watermelon stocks are being propped up by imports from abroad but this week, consumers have been warned against eating batches from Morocco.
The European rapid alert system has issued a health alert in which it reports "the detection at a border control of a batch of watermelons from Morocco in which a high level of methomyl, an unauthorized pesticide, was found."
These Moroccan watermelons reportedly contained traces of an insecticide in proportions that exceed the limits established in Europe. The main worry is that authorities are unsure how far and wide the contaminated fruit has been distributed in Spain, so the advice is to avoid any watermelon from Morocco.
What’s the risk?
A spokesperson from the alert system has described this as a “serious” incident, since the pesticide contains a chemical substance called methomyl, which, when consumed, can result in symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, tremors, muscle weakness and blurred vision.
Furthermore, "the mixture of methomyl with alcohol consumption can impact the central and peripheral nervous system , as well as causing kidney failure."
Last week, the Spanish supermarket chain Ahorramas withdrew its Alipende potato omelettes. This withdrawal was taken “as a precaution” since one particular consumer of this product reported having begun to feel unwell after eating this brand of Spanish omelette.
Image: Freepik
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