Growing concern over food safety in fruits and vegetables imported from Morocco highlighted the challenges of quality control of these products. Morocco has become a key exporter for several countries, but its expansion in the agricultural trade raises questions about product management. Despite the country’s efforts to improve its agricultural and food safety practices, concerns persist about the use of pesticides and chemicals in food production. Improper use of these substances can leave hazardous residues, posing a health risk to consumers. In addition, the lack of adequate supervision throughout the supply chainfrom production to distribution, poses difficulties in ensuring the quality and safety of imported products.
Although not all food from Morocco is unsafe, it is crucial that more stringent safety measures are implemented. control and monitoring to protect food security. Greater cooperation between importing and exporting countries is essential, as is the application of strict food safety regulations. Strengthening the inspection systems throughout the supply chain will reduce risks and ensure that food reaching consumers is safe and of high quality.
The reason why a fruit seller sells products from Morocco
@fruterodebarrio Reply to @rafacordero5 Most of the time, both in greengrocers and in supermarkets, the pods come from Morocco? because? mainly because people do not want to pay for the national systems, which are more expensive. #parati #Fruta #Fruteria #EspañaHuertaDeEuropa #pods ♬ original sound – fruterodebarrio
In this context, a fruit seller, known on TikTok as “fruterodelbarrio”, responded to a comment about buying products from Moroccolike beans and cranberries. He explained that while he would prefer to sell domestic products, most of the beans he sells are Moroccan because of their low price.
While the national beansWhile they can cost between five and six euros per kilo, those from Morocco are sold at more affordable prices, between 1.99 and 2.99 euros. He argued that many consumers prioritize price due to economic difficulties, which means that the cheapest beans are in greater demand.
The fruit seller also mentioned that Spain exports a large part of its production to Europe, which increases the price of national products in the local market. He said that his responsibility is to satisfy the demands of his customers, who are mostly looking for cheaper options.
Although some users on TikTok They said they would be willing to pay more for domestic products, the fruit seller stressed that in practice most consumers focus on price. He also pointed out that Spanish products are more expensive due to taxes and strict production regulations.
EAN code
A study of the Consumer and User Organization (OCU) reveals the increasing difficulty of identifying the origin of food due to the lack of mandatory labeling.
Although fresh foods, such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, fish and meat, must indicate their origin, this is not always clear to consumers. Country of origin information is crucial for those looking for sustainable options or wishing to support local development.
The OCU offers a practical solution: deciphering the barcode, called EAN code (European Article Numbering System). This code, which usually has 13 digits, contains information about the geographical origin of the product. The first two digits, called the “prefix” or “flag”, indicate the country where the code was issued. Spain, for example, uses the prefix “84”, which goes from 840 to 849. Therefore, a product whose barcode begins with these digits will indicate that it is of Spanish origin.
Know and use this information helps consumers make more informed decisions about the products they buy, especially when provenance is not clearly visible on the label.
Moroccan products at the supermarket
The presence of Moroccan Food Products in Spain This has generated controversy due to health concerns and differences in pesticide regulations. In March, an outbreak of hepatitis A in strawberries imported from Morocco forced the Spanish Food Safety Agency (AESAN) to withdraw them from the market. In addition, there are concerns about the use of pesticides banned in the European Union but permitted in Morocco.
Among the most affected products are: oliveswhich were recalled for their high content of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide banned in the EU. Rice was also detected with very high levels of the chemical and watermelons with methomylanother banned pesticide. Other products under surveillance include onions, beans and tomatoes. The situation has intensified protests from Spain’s agricultural sector, which has struggled with more permissive legislation and public health concerns.
