Oct 9 – EU tightens safety rules on Brazil peanut imports

Reuters details another case of the EU finding aflatoxins in food products:

The European Union has tightened food safety rules on peanuts from Brazil due to high levels of a cancer-causing chemical in shipments, officials said on Friday.

The decision, taken by a panel of EU-27 national food safety experts, was designed to limit the risk of aflatoxins entering Europe from the South American agricultural powerhouse…

Aflatoxins, which pose a risk of liver cancer even at very low doses, occur naturally and are produced by moulds in soil, decaying vegetation, hay and deteriorating grains. Their growth is aided by high moisture content and high temperatures.

The full article available from Reuters.