Courgettes recalled in Belgium and Luxembourg over pesticide risk

Retailers including Colruyt, Aldi, and Delhaize have issued a recall for loose courgettes sold in Belgium and Luxembourg due to the potential presence of heptachlor, a pesticide banned for over 40 years.

The affected products were sold between August 10 and August 24. The recall was initiated after a supplier warned of possible contamination. Consumers are advised not to consume the vegetables and to return them to the store for a full refund.

According to Afsca spokesperson Aline Van den Broeck, the contamination stems from the historical use of heptachlor on a 3.5-hectare plot in West Flanders. While the substance has been prohibited for decades, it remained in the soil and was absorbed by the crops. Cucurbits, the family to which courgettes belong, are particularly susceptible to absorbing such soil contaminants.