On Wednesday, the Finnish food safety agency confirmed that batches of peppers tainted with the illegal pesticides were discovered between January 7-12 in supermarket distribution centres and public sector canteens.
It was Finnish importers who detected methyl isophenphos during routine testing and have instigated measures to withdraw product from the marketplace. The offending red peppers were marketed under brands owned by Murgiverde and Ejidoluz.
The discoveries are significant as they mark the first since the Spanish authorities introduced certification measures following arrivals tainted with illegal pesticides in Germany on December 28, 2006.
One of the affected Finnish importers told frehinfo: “We are not the only ones affected, there are at least another four to six firms who have received the same products from Spain. In Finland, we feel that we have been used as a dumping ground, but now the authorities have noticed and reacted.”
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