The EFET was informed through the Early Warning System for Food and Animal Feed (RASFF), about the circulation on the Greek market of fresh pasta, originating in Italy, which may contain peanutsfrom cross-contamination of the raw material, while it is not indicated on their labeling.
In particular, this is the product with a foreign language sales name “Girasoli vegani spinach and cashew nuts 250×6” and trade name ‘Bertagni Plant Cuisine’.
The Greek sales name of the product is “Fresh Pasta with Spinach and Cashews”while the consumption dates on which the problem was found are: 28/4, 5/5, 12/5, 20/5, 27/5, 3/6 and 10/6.
The product is sold by the company “ALFA BETA VASSILOPOULOS MONOPROSSOPI SA”, which has already withdrawn it from its stores.
Consumers who have already purchased the product (photos below) and are allergic to peanuts are urged not to consume it.
What are peanuts?
The peanut is herbaceous annual or biennial plant of the Fabaceae family. It includes a total of nine species, the most representative of which is the groundnut or common ground peanut (in Cyprus it is called foustoukoudi). It is widely cultivated in India and in countries of the African continent mainly for its seeds which contain oil.
It is a poa with an upright or creeping stem and alternate, compound leaves that have two pairs of leaflets. The flowers are yellow with red stripes. The fruit is pod or hedropa. It is propagated by seeds. It thrives in warm climates.
The plant originates from Brazil. There it was transported and initially cultivated in Africa by Negro traders for the sustenance of the latter on the journey from Africa to America. The variety cultivated today came from continuous selection of a native Brazilian species. Gradually its cultivation expanded to warm climates around the world.
The main producing country is China (40% of world production). Followed by India, Nigeria, USA, Indonesia, Sudan, Argentina, etc. In Greece, its cultivation is developed to a limited extent (about 45,000 acres), although in several places such as Messinia, Almyros and Serres.
