In 2024, the number of food safety alerts exchanged between EU member states increased, with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nut products among the most frequently reported categories, according to the European Commission. The Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN), which includes the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and the Administrative Assistance and Cooperation networks (AAC), recorded 9,460 notifications—an 8 per cent rise compared to 2023. RASFF alerts alone increased by 12 per cent to 5,250.
Fruits and vegetables accounted for 16 per cent of all notifications, the highest share across categories. Key hazards included pesticide residues, mycotoxins, pathogenic microorganisms, metals, and environmental pollutants. Chlorpyrifos, acetamiprid, and dimethoate were the most commonly detected residues. Around one-third of RASFF notifications were border rejections, largely due to excessive pesticide levels in imported produce.
A significant majority—84 per cent—of alerts related to products originating from outside the EU. Turkey was the most frequently reported country of origin, followed by Egypt, India, and China.
Nut and nut product notifications accounted for approximately 7 per cent of total alerts. Groundnuts were most frequently reported, mainly due to aflatoxin contamination. Pistachios were also commonly flagged for mycotoxins. Sesame seeds represented 20 per cent of nut-related alerts, often due to Salmonella contamination and missing health certificates. The main origins of these products were also non-EU countries, particularly Turkey, Egypt, and the United States.
Sandra Gallina, Director General for Health and Food Safety (DG Sante), noted that the rise in notifications reflects continued vigilance by EU food control authorities, despite ongoing challenges. The data highlights the importance of maintaining robust monitoring and testing systems, especially for high-risk imports such as fresh produce and nuts.
Source: Food Safety News