Garlic, cloves, pink berries: spices sold in supermarkets throughout France recalled

Check your cupboards. The French Food Directorate General and the DGCCRF (Directorate General for Food and Agriculture) have launched a recall of several spices sold at Auchan, Carrefour, Leclerc, and Super U in recent days.

On Friday, via the French government's " Rappel conso " website, whole Rustica brand cloves, sold in Leclerc supermarkets since April 14, were recalled across France due to exceeding the maximum regulatory pesticide limits. The bottles' best before date is August 22, 2028. It is recommended that they no longer be consumed and should be returned to the store where they were purchased for a refund.

Also subject to a recall are whole pink berries from the U brand, sold in the chain's stores in 20g bottles, and from the Auchan brand. The recall notice for the former explains that they contain traces of "polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons," persistent organic pollutants or POPs, produced mainly by the combustion of organic matter and considered a reliable indicator of soil pollution. The recall notice for the latter specifies that the presence of benzopyrene , an aromatic compound with potentially carcinogenic properties, has been detected.

In the spice section of Auchan, it is also advised to return to the store, or destroy, eleven batches of dried garlic powder, due to a detected sulfur dioxide level exceeding regulations. Rappel conso states that people who, after consuming this freeze-dried garlic, experience "headaches, nausea, vomiting" are advised to consult their doctor.

On Wednesday, garlic powder sold at Carrefour under the store's own brand was also flagged by experts on the government's monitoring site. The presence of sulfites, an allergen, is not declared on the bottle, and many people are allergic or intolerant to sulfites , compounds derived from sulfur, often used as preservatives in food.