Grape leaves. The Peninsula
Doha: Ministry of Public Health announced that the "grape leaves" products currently offered in the local market are in conformity with the standard specifications.
The ministry pointed out that the supervision of imported grape paper products was tightened against the background of the results of the analysis of the external reference laboratory for samples of grape leaves products, which matched the results of a previous analysis of the ministry's food laboratories. The results confirmed that samples of 12 different brands of imported grape leaves are not conforming to standard specifications.
In light of these results, the ministry has taken more samples of the products previously withdrawn from the markets, where a number of items were in conformity with the standard specifications, while others violate the limits of pesticide residue in the standard specifications.
The ministry pointed out that the products of the grape leaves currently available in the local market conform to the standard specifications, and confirmed that it will take in cooperation with the competent authorities all the procedures to continue to ensure the safety of grape leaves and other food products before allowing them for trade in the markets.
Two weeks ago, the Ministry of Public Health called on consumers not to consume grape leaves products until a clarification was issued. This was after the ministry conducted an assessment of the level of potential risk.
The ministry withdrew samples of all varieties of fresh and processed grape leaves, which are traded in the markets of all brands and countries of origin. The samples were analyzed, and the results showed that a large number of samples contained pesticide residues in excess of the permissible limits, while other samples were withdrawn and sent for analysis at one of the reference laboratories approved outside Qatar.
The reason for the high percentages of pesticide residues in grape leaves and other vegetables and fruits due to incorrect agricultural practices in dealing with pesticides.
