The illegal substance was again found in the food exported from Serbia to the European Union, the seventh time since the beginning of 2026.
Germany found the hepatitis A virus in the mix of frozen berries, it was announced on the portal European food alert system (RASFF). The risk was stated to be serious.
The food was sampled on April 20 during the official control of products on the market, and the warning was issued on May 12. The Netherlands and Poland are indicated as countries to monitor the situation. The European Commission is also monitoring the case.
This is the seventh foodstuff that has been marked as unsafe, and it was exported from Serbia to the market of some of the countries of the European Union.
Last year, the RASFF portal, which publishes information on the withdrawal of food products from the market and issues warnings about harmful food in EU member states, issued 30 warnings for unsafe foodstuffs from Serbia.
Photo: Pixabay/annekroissThe sample was discovered during regular market control
What all 2026 marked as unsafe
In the delivery of raspberries to France from Serbia at the end of April, they were found almost twice the amount of cadmium than is allowed, the European Commission announced.
France has withheld this shipment, it was announced on April 30 on the RASFF website.
Two weeks earlier, on April 17, Croatia found trichinosis in rice galettes from Serbia, but further distribution was allowed.
This neighboring country has found illegal substances in foodstuffs from Serbia three more times since the beginning of the year.
Bacteria were previously found in cake crusts, nickel in sauerkraut i aflatoxin B1 in density.
Slovenia also issued a warning - from the market in In March, a contingent of prunes was withdrawn from Slovenia pitted ones imported from Serbia, due to the elevated level of sorbic acid.
Sorbic acid is a white crystalline powder widely used as a safe preservative in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Effectively prevents the development of mold, yeasts and some bacteria, extending the shelf life of foods such as dairy products, jams and pastries.
Thirty warnings in 2025
During the year 2025, as many as 30 warnings were issued for products from Serbia intended for the EU market. Among the irregularities found were hepatitis A and cadmium in frozen fruit, aflatoxin in soy flour, metal wire in gnocchi, as well as listeria in smoked salmon.
The most common reason for issuing a warning remains the presence of aflatoxin B1 - the most toxic form of this group of mycotoxins, which is considered carcinogenic and can cause serious liver damage and other long-term effects on human health.
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