Germany warns of dangerous pesticides in Turkish pears

The agriculture ministry in the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg warned on Monday against eating Turkish pears, after tracing dangerously high levels of insecticide. The problem affected Turkish pears across Germany, the Stuttgart- based ministry said, adding that they had passed on the alert to a Europe-wide warning system.

The agriculture ministry carried out tests on eight samples, which all revealed more than the permitted 0.01 milligrammes per kilogramme of the forbidden pesticide Amitraz.

The highest concentration was a record 15.7 milligrammes per kilo.

Excessive consumption of Amitraz could damage the health of young children, leading to a risk of speech impediments, tiredness or low blood pressure.
Food monitoring officials removed the pears from shops in Baden- Wuerttemberg and destroyed them.

Amitraz has been banned in Germany for several years and was outlawed by the EU in 2008.