Poisoned avocados could have made their way to Ukrainian supermarkets: what is dangerous about the Peruvian fruit.

European Alert System for Food Safety

The European rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) has reported that it has identified a dangerous batch of avocados from Peru containing elevated levels of cadmium. Ukraine is among the countries that could have received this hazardous product.

Health Risk

The Netherlands first detected the issue on April 2, 2025, during an inspection of the importing company and deemed it serious. High levels of cadmium in products pose a health threat, as this toxic substance harms the digestive, respiratory, and nervous systems upon entering the body.

Government Response

The European Commission has confirmed the report, and the Dutch authorities have taken necessary measures, including notifying the sender and destroying the hazardous products. According to the latest RASFF data, Ukraine and Peru were noted as countries needing special attention regarding this case.

Consumer Advice

Consumers are advised to be cautious when purchasing avocados from Peru and to monitor official announcements from regulatory bodies regarding the potential withdrawal of these products from sale.