The company Aurion is recalling a range of products with organic white quinoa from the market on Friday following the discovery of the pesticide chlorpyrifos. According to a press release from Aurion, there is a minor exceeding of the pesticide limit, but the products are still being removed from the shelves due to their health unacceptability. This evaluation was made by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen) and the Technical University of Denmark.
Chlorpyrifos is not approved for use in the EU and is also banned in organic farming, making the discovery particularly problematic. Aurion does not disclose how the pesticide ended up in the products. The withdrawn goods include 13 different products such as quinoa flakes, quinoa flour, and whole quinoa, which have been sold both in physical stores and online.
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration emphasizes that even small amounts of chlorpyrifos can be harmful to health. There is no lower limit for when the substance is considered safe. Exposure to chlorpyrifos can damage genes and brain development in fetuses, making it particularly concerning. The pesticide was banned in the EU in 2019, and food cannot be sold if chlorpyrifos is detected.
Aurion encourages consumers to either discard the products or return them to the stores.