Inspectors confiscate 16 tons of mangos

Luxembourger inspectors have confiscated 16 tons of fairly traded mangoes that were en route from Africa to a Freiburger aid project. Some of the fruits were infested with parasites. The complete shipment of mangoes is a good 30,000 organic fruits, which were en route from Africa to Freiburg so serve a good purpose. Inspectors took the mangoes out of traffic – the Freiburger association “Solarenergie für Afrika” thought that it was due to them being too ripe. The Luxemburg authorities said it was because they contained parasites.

This caused damage worth 65,000 euros, and the association may also have to pay for the waste disposal, said the association's founder, Mounirou Salami, who lives in Kappel, on Thursday. “This whole thing is a shock to us.”

The engineer, and his wife and association colleagues import fairly trade mangoes from Burkina-faso and use the sales revenue to provide solar plants to African village schools. Before they are flown in, the fruits stay on the tree as long as possible. “That is the joke, they need to already be ripe, so that they taste right”, Salami explained.

Among the partners and buyers in the city and surroundings are schools, kindergartens, companies, churches and the local administration of Kappel. The association, which works together with other aid projects, started with 3,5 tons of mangoes four years ago, and this year it would have been 30 tons, if this shipment had arrived.

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