The European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has issued a notification on August 21, 2024 warning of the detection of an illegal pesticide in cinnamon from Madagascar. Specifically, the alert reference is 2024.6343 and the pesticide found is ‘chlorpyrifos’.
The detection has been carried out during routine controls at the Spanish border. The RASFF alert is classified as a “serious” risk, although they do not specify the observed dangers or associated symptoms or illness.
Neurotoxic, cognitive and hormonal problems
Chlorpyrifos is a widely used insecticide in homes and agriculture. It has been used for years in homes to control cockroaches, fleas and termites, and as an active ingredient in certain flea collars for domestic animals. In agriculture, it is used to control ticks on livestock and is sprayed on crops to control pests.
The European Commission banned its use in 2020 due to its health hazards. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) confirmed its genotoxic and neurological effects on children’s development. However, this insecticide It continues to be used without restrictions in many countries.
Chlorpyrifos can enter the body through the mouth, lungs and skin. The insecticide, after being drunk or ingested, passes rapidly from the intestines into the bloodstream, which distributes it to the rest of the body. It can also enter the body through the lungs when aerosol products or dust containing it are breathed in and quickly pass into the blood.
Short-term exposure to low levels of chlorpyrifos can cause dizziness, fatigue, runny nose, tearing, salivation, nausea, intestinal discomfort, sweating, and changes in heart rhythm. Ingestion at higher levels can cause paralysis, convulsions, fainting, and death.