22/07/2010

In the light of the communication issued by the Organisation for Consumers and Users (OCU) with regard to the presence of heavy metals and pesticides in the product known as Goji Berries, and of information received by this Agency, we declare that:

With regard to heavy metals, in accordance with the established limits laid down by current European legislation, and taking into account that this is presented as a dried product, permitted values are not exceeded.

With regard to pesticides, these are within the legal limits, with the exception of one sample which exceeded the established limit for one pesticide by one hundredth.

Therefore, given these data and taking into account that this was not a mandatory sample, AESAN does not consider it appropriate to accede to the OCU’s request for the product to be withdrawn. We would also like to clarify that there is no immediate health risk for persons who have consumed this product.

We also declare that there is no scientific evidence to support the health claims sometimes made with regard to this type of product.