Mangoes contaminated with corrosive disinfectant

Mangoes contaminated with caustic permanganate disinfectant

18/05/2011

Mangoes coated with corrosive disinfectant. In the branches of the supermarket chain Kaufland in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia mangoes were discovered that were contaminated with the disinfectant permanganate. The fruits were taken as a precaution from the trade.

According to the State Inspectorate for Health and Veterinary Affairs Saxony (LUA), the mangoes were probably already contaminated with the corrosive brownish-violet substance in their country of origin. In a supermarket in Leipzig, however, the burden was only noticed after a saleswoman had burned her hands while cleaning the mangoes, reports the largest newspaper in Saxony, the „Free press“.

Chemical burns through contact with mangoes
The fruits covered with the brownish-violet substance were discovered last week in Kaufland branches in Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, according to the State Investigation Institute. Once it became clear that there was a significant amount of permanganate, the fruits were taken out of the market as a precautionary measure in order to avoid potential health risks for consumers. For example, potassium permanganate, which is widely used as a disinfectant, is considered to be toxic only to a small extent, but the irritant effect of exposure to living tissue can cause severe burns. Therefore, the skin contact should be avoided as much as possible and an oral intake urgently prevented, the experts warn. Frank Stephan from the Veterinary and Food Supervision Office of the City of Leipzig also pointed out that permanganate „cause local irritation or chemical burns at very high concentration and exposure“ can.

Fruits already contaminated in the country of origin with permanganate
In addition to the chemical burns of the seller through the permanganate contaminated mangoes, according to the police, no further health problems of customers or sales staff are known. There have been no customer complaints, the authorities report. How the contamination of the mangoes was caused has not yet been conclusively clarified. „Presumably, the superficial contamination of the mango already occurred in the country of origin“, said Frank Stephan from the Veterinary and Food Supervision Office of the City of Leipzig. According to that, the mangoes were probably contaminated in Nicaragua with the permanganate used as a plant protection product to combat fungi and bacteria. Normally permanganates are mostly used as disinfectants and for cleaning organic liquids. Permanganates are also used to clean the exhaust air and waste water in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Contaminated mangoes were immediately taken out of the sale
According to the city of Leipzig, the permanganate burden of the mangoes in the Leipzig Kaufland branch was rather harmless for the health of consumers. Although the vendor suffered slight chemical burns on the hands when cleaning, the concentration on the mangoes did not cause any further health problems. In addition, the mangoes are contaminated only externally, so that an oral intake, threatening significant health consequences, is unlikely. Nevertheless, Kaufland reacted promptly and withdrew all strained mangoes in the branches of Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. (Fp)

Picture: Joujou