Fancy a fresh tomato? Think again. An investigative TV show has uncovered the dark truth behind Albania’s tomatoes.
Fiks Fare, a popular investigative journalism program, has revealed that Ethephon—a hormone banned in Europe—is still being used by farmers to ripen fresh tomatoes. The chemical makes the fruit appear red and ripe but leaves health concerns on the table.
“This stuff is poison,” says Bashkim Likaj, a farmer from Fier who has been campaigning against the hormone for years. “It makes tomatoes look ripe, but they’re not. Worse, it’s banned in Europe, yet here, it’s sold like candy.”
What’s the deal with this hormone?
The chemical speeds up ripening but has been banned across Europe for being carcinogenic. In Albania, however, it’s still widely used, and unsuspecting consumers have no idea what they’re eating.
“I knocked on every door, but no one listened”
Likaj has appealed to everyone—ministries, food authorities, and plant protection agencies—but nothing changed. “Farmers are using this killer hormone without any rules, and consumers are left in the dark,” he said.
Earlier this year, he even met officials to demand action. Their response? “If the ministry approves it, our hands are tied.”
But persistence paid off—sort of. In June 2024, the ministry agreed to ban Ethephon for use on fresh tomatoes. Labels were updated to reflect the new rules. Victory? Not quite.
Still for sale, no questions asked
Months later, Fiks Fare uncovered the ugly truth: Ethephon is still being sold in agricultural stores. Investigators bought it easily in Lushnje and two other pharmacies. Some even sold it by the gram.
One shopkeeper confessed, “We have it, but we don’t sell it for tomatoes because it’s banned.” Others? No such scruples.
Consumer health left hanging
So, while the law may have changed on paper, enforcement hasn’t followed. Albanian tomatoes are still seeing red—and so is farmer Bashkim.
