A shocking food safety scandal has rocked Albania after 10 tonnes of pesticide-tainted tangerines—rejected by Croatia—were secretly dumped on the market instead of being destroyed.
Authorities in Berat have arrested three people after discovering the fruit, laced with toxic levels of banned pesticide Phosmet, was sold instead of properly disposed of.
Investigators revealed that the tangerines, originally grown in Berat and Sarandë, were blocked at the Croatian border due to excessive pesticide residue. But instead of being destroyed under strict safety laws, the fruit was quietly returned to Albania—only to mysteriously disappear.
Toxic and illegal
Tests showed that the tangerines contained Phosmet at 0.075 mg/kg—seven times the legal limit. The chemical, banned since 2022, is known to cause serious health risks with repeated exposure.
Fake certificates
A key agriculture inspector, also arrested, admitted to fraud, confessing he had been issuing blank export certificates, which businesses then filled out themselves before sending them back for official approval.
Prosecutors have charged three individuals, including the farmer and the inspector, with fraud, food safety violations, and abuse of power. Meanwhile, investigators are probing deeper into potential corruption within the food safety and agricultural inspection agencies.
Albanian authorities vow to crack down on food fraud as the scandal fuels growing public outrage.
