Excess nitrates found in imported watermelons in Georgia
Sellers were ordered to “prevent, remove or destroy” the product from their stores following the checks, the Agency also noted. Photo: National Food Agency
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Georgian authorities have detected a higher than permitted concentration of nitrates in imported watermelons across the country, the National Food Agency announced on Tuesday.
The excess concentration of nitrate levels was found in all 12 samples of the fruit taken by the national body.
Sellers were ordered to “prevent, remove or destroy” the product from their stores following the checks, the Agency also noted.
The statement also said authorities would continue to collect and study watermelon samples from the local market.
Up to 600 kg of meat harmful for health was sealed by the National Food Agency following an inspection in Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi, the state body announced on Friday.
The National Food Agency has sealed 472 kilograms of the Kinder chocolate product on the Georgian market after it was notified of a threat of Salmonella bacterial infection in the batches by a European Commission body last week, the agency announced on Friday.
Higher nitrate content was observed in 16 of 100 vegetable and fruit samples imported or produced in Georgia, announces the National Food Agency of Georgia. The National Food Agency says that the nitrates were found mainly in beet samples, the sale of which was banned in the country.
Inspection groups from the National Food Agency are inspecting seasonal fruits and vegetables across the country, taking samples from various retail outlets and produce markets to determine the concentration of nitrates in freshly harvested fruits and vegetables.
The National Food Agency of Georgia has fined and suspended 15 food facilities in the Black Sea coastline region of Adjara after inspections revealed “critical inconsistency” with safety, sanitary and other regulations.
The National Food Agency of Georgia on Wednesday said the European Commission had “positively assessed” the state system for controlling presence of aflatoxins - a various poisonous carcinogens and mutagens produced by certain moulds - in Georgian hazelnuts.