Nitrate content can only be determined by accredited labs, claims national food safety agency of Moldova
17:15 | 03.09.2019 Category: Social
Chisinau, 03 September /MOLDPRES/ – The National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) has taken note of info, recently published in press, regarding the nitrate content in plant products. Thus, the institution has issued a statement, on Tuesday, 03 September informing consumers that the maximum allowable limits for nitrate content in plant products are set by Government Decision №115 of 2013 and can only be determined in accredited labs.
“The investigations for determination of the nitrate content are carried out only in accredited labs, and the digital devices in the trade (nitrate tests) cannot be verified metrologically, however, the results obtained with them regarding the nitrate content are not considered true. Also, the maximum limits used by these devices do not coincide with the national legislation. The samples are taken by trained persons and according to approved methodology”, said sources of ANSA.
Similarly, the Agency recommends to purchase plant products only from authorised/registered places, and, if there are doubts about the quality of products, the consumers can request presentation by trader of certificate of harmlessness or the test bulletin issued by an accredited lab.
The National Agency for Food Safety monitors systematically the content of pesticide and nitrate residues in food of plant origin. Within the Monitoring Programme for 2019, it will be taken 400 samples to investigate the content of pesticide residues and 272 samples to investigate the content of nitrates. So far, there have been taken 100 samples to determine the nitrate content and 150 samples to determine the pesticide residue content.
Last week, several media outlets wrote that "pumpkins, new cabbage, potatoes and onions from shops in Chisinau are the highest – level nitrate products on the counter and pose a health hazard." This was highlighted by a lab expertise recently conducted by the National Agency of Public Healthcare (ANSP) within initiative: Choose healthy.
