Recall of winged bull rice: the pesticide identified had been banned for neurotoxicity and genotoxicity

If you have to wholegrain basmati rice from the winged bull brand (Lustucru) in your cupboards, check its batch number, because this product is subject to a recall due to the “proven” presence of a pesticide prohibited, which exceeds “the authorized limits”, Consuming Reminder alert.

These are packets of rice from 500 gramsfrom the lot “L2021F” and bearing the GTIN number: 3038354593302.

This wholegrain basmati rice is sold throughout France in the following supermarkets: Carrefour, Auchan, Galec, Cora, Intermarché and Casino.

Batches purchased several months ago are affected: the recall concerns all products put on sale since February 7, 2022, with a durability date extending to January 1, 2025.

People who hold these products are asked to do not consume them and bring them back to the point of sale where they were purchased, where they will be exchanged or refunded.

What is this “banned” pesticide?

This pesticide is chlorpyrifos, according to information from our colleagues at franceinfo this Thursday.

Permanently banned in Europe as of 2020 he is known to be toxic, even at low dosesfor human health, according to a report from the European Medicines Agency (EFSA) dated August 2019. THE chlorpyrifos, concluded this report, has “potentials” genotoxic effects (harmful to cell DNA), and are toxic to the developing brain.

Before this ban, chlorpyrifos was often present in the form of residues in fruits (particularly citrus fruits), vegetables, cereals, dairy products, etc.

However, exposure to chlorpyrifos could be “associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in children, such as increased risk of autism, working memory loss, ADHD, and decreased IQ, explained the NGO Future generations in a statement released following EFSA’s ban on the controversial pesticide. Children are particularly at risk because their brains are still developing. Numerous studies have shown that chlorpyrifos is an endocrine disruptor (EDC), but it is also associated with metabolic disorders, breast and lung cancers, and male infertility. Exposure to chlorpyrifos has been shown to damage DNA.”

Already in 2021, the magazine 60 Million Consumers had detected this pesticide in rice sold by the brand Taureau Ailé.

Asked by franceinfo, Lustucru, owner of the Taureau Ailé ​​brand, explains that it carried out its own checks. “We have had counter-analyzes carried out on this product by accredited laboratories which demonstrate the absence of any contamination”, writes Lustucru in an email. But ” in accordance with the DDPP [direction départementale de protection des populations], we have decided to withdraw the entire batch of rice from the market, packaged and delivered in March 2022.”

For any additional information, contact 09 70 80 91 12.

Sources:

• Recall Conso website, January 23.
• France Info
• Future generations