Spanish groups call for more aflatoxin checks on U.S almonds

Two Spanish groups have voiced concerns about almonds from the United States failing to meet European safety requirements.

The Valencian Association of Farmers (AVA-ASAJA) and Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of Murcia (FECOAM) have both recently commented on aflatoxin findings in almonds from the United States.

The AVA-ASAJA cited a Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) alert in September that listed the detection of total aflatoxins at 29.3 µg/kg, while the maximum EU limit in almonds for direct consumption is 10 µg/kg. Implicated almonds were detained by the operator in Germany.

The association said U.S. imports repeatedly fail to meet food safety requirements because of excessive aflatoxin and urged people to buy almonds from Europe.

Cristóbal Aguado, chair of the AVA-ASAJA, called on European officials to intensify import controls on American almonds so that those harmful to health do not reach the market.

The U.S. is a major almond producer, with a share of about 80 percent, while Spain is the leading producer in Europe. Current regulation means pre-export checks replace or reduce the documentary, identity and physical controls at import into the EU.

The harvest in Valencia was expected to be slightly affected because of factors such as lack of rainfall and high temperatures during the summer months.

Call for more controls
In 2025, 10 RASFF notices have been issued relating to almonds from the U.S. Six mentioned aflatoxin or mycotoxin, three were because of Salmonella, and one because of insects. Four were border rejection notifications.

There have also been a few reports of aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin in almonds from Spain and Italy.

Fecoam called for increased controls in Europe and Spain on nuts from the U.S.

The federation said stricter checks were needed to prevent the entry of almonds contaminated with aflatoxin, which poses a serious risk to the health of consumers.

“We are asking for even stricter controls at ports and customs in Spain and throughout the EU, when it comes to controlling the entry of almonds, pistachios and other nuts from the U.S.,” said Pedro Guerrero, from Fecoam.

“It is necessary to raise awareness among the authorities and society about the danger posed by the entry of nuts from the United States containing aflatoxins.”

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