Cadmium contamination has been found in pineapple cans exported to South Africa, a major blow to the industry, which plans to take legal action against fertilizer suppliers because the fertilizer pollutes the soil.

 

In November of last year (2006), South Africa exported canned pineapples to Swaziland and refused to accept cadmium, a heavy metal found in canned pineapples.

 

South African pineapple growers and processors are angry because they believe they are producing according to industry standards and are not responsible for this problem.

 

Three responsibilities are being pursued: importers of fertilizers, Chinese companies that produce the zinc sulphate fertilizer, and the South African Department of Agriculture.

 

Mr. Duncan, head of the East Cape Pineapple Association, an industry group in South Africa, says we have been using Chinese fertilizers for years without any problems.

 

But from now on, the person in charge said, we must inspect any products from China.

 

The fertilizers were imported through the agency Protea Chemicals (Omnia Holdings Group), although the ECPA is taking legal action against Protea Chemicals for the losses it has suffered.

 

But the problem also concerns South Africa's Ministry of Agriculture, which is believed to have agreed to supply the fertilizer without testing.

 

Export is harmed

 

The South African Health Department says cadmium does not pose a health hazard if it does not exceed 0.25 ppm.

 

However, whether or not it is harmful to health, this content is enough to block exports to most countries.

 

The ECPA said that in December 2006, we had banned the use of zinc sulphide fertilizers and preserved them as evidence when it was found that they were responsible for the total cadmium content in their products.

 

In South Africa, there are only two pineapple canneries: Summerpride Foods and Collondale Cannery.

 

The head of the ECPA said our products did not exceed Codex standards; therefore, our products can still be exported to the United States and South America.

 

In the European Union, the limit for cadmium is no more than 0.05 mg per kilogram, which is lower than in many countries outside the European Union, and 0.1 ppm in Australia, the United States, Canada and Japan.

 

South Africa's exports have been struggling in recent years because of cheap competition from similar products in the Far East and a strong South African currency.

 

Between 2006 and May, South Africa's exports of canned pineapples to the European market had fallen sharply.

 

In particular, 255 tons of canned pineapples were exported to Swaziland, reaching record levels; however, Swaziland imported only 15 tons between January and April 2007.

 

In his final statement, Mr Duncan said that on behalf of the ECPA, the industry would seek to compensate companies that were one of South Africa's largest suppliers of fertilizer, for their illegal actions and damage to the industry, which would be challenged in court.

 

He adds that this may not be the end of the cadmium story, and that the harmful fertilizer will be used in other countries, and coincidentally, it has been heard that this problem is also occurring in Brazil; in China, the problem is spreading.