Health warning on Moroccan cherry tomatoes

The Czech agricultural and food inspection authorities published 2 health alerts on the 18th and 19th May concerning a batch of Moroccan cherry tomatoes. The French health authorities registered ''26 cases of food poisoning linked to consuming cherry tomatoes''. Victims suffered from ''digestive symptoms (vomiting, abdominal cramps, sore throat)''. French authorities note that these are ''short term'' symptoms and occur ''very quickly after consuming the tomatoes''.

All sufferers consumed tomatoes imported from Morocco. According to news magazine www.h24info.ma, the tomatoes were marketed by Idyl, a French company that produces, packages and imports Moroccan fruit and vegetables into France. The company responded directly on this accusation: “We have been informed by French health authorities of consumer complaints concerning indigestion of limited duration potentially linked to the eating of a variety of cherry tomatoes from Morocco. Although no analysis has revealed the slightest product non-conformity, Idyl company has decided, as a precaution, to stop marketing this variety from May 2 2014 on."

The tomatoes were sold in many French supermarkets. Czech authorities discovered that Idyl imported over 50,000kg of cherry tomatoes into the country between the 20th April - 2nd May. At first consumers were advised against a certain lot, but the following day they were warned not to eat any cherry tomatoes from Morocco.