Ministry of Agriculture denies rumours of contamination of Moroccan strawberries
The Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture has categorically denied the rumours circulating in some media and social networks about the contamination of Moroccan strawberries by the hepatitis A virus.
According to a statement from the Ministry, this unfounded misinformation comes from entities that seek to damage the reputation of Moroccan agricultural produce.
Analysis and research
Proof of this is the result of precise analyses carried out by the National Office for the Health Safety of Foodstuffs (ONSSA), which shows that they are healthy and do not represent any health risk.
ONSSA did not stop there, but launched an investigation and carried out the necessary tests that allowed the identification of the field and the production unit of the batch of strawberries exported from Morocco, in order to assess their quality and detect possible sanitary risks.
The results of the laboratory tests for hepatitis A were negative and no contamination of the irrigation water was detected. Moreover, it has been confirmed that all workers in the field are under strict control to ensure the sanitary safety of the strawberries.
In view of the results refuting all these rumours, the Ministry reserves the right to resort to legal proceedings against the authors of these false reports and to fight against the various sources seeking to defame national agricultural products, in accordance with the legislation in force.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests urged consumers to be cautious and to consult official sources for correct information on food safety.
For its part, the National Food Safety Office (ONSSA) continues its work, committed to ensuring the safety and quality of food products in Morocco.
Both the Ministry and the ONSSA ensure the health safety of strawberries, like that of all agricultural products in the Kingdom, thanks to the efforts of their various services and departments.
It should be noted that the permanent and precise execution of the ONSSA annual surveillance plan in the national market is one of the strong points that allow continuous control of the quality of Moroccan products.
This plan also includes hundreds of samples of red fruits that are analyzed to verify their safety and compliance with health safety regulations. Which contributes to presenting irrefutable evidence as an efficient weapon against the spread of rumors and “fake news.”