The Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AFSA) has detected a prohibited coloring agent in a large shipment of oranges imported from Iran. During inspection measures, samples were taken from 21,200 kilograms of oranges imported by Karvan Agro LLC and produced by Sajad Babaiee.
According to the information provided by the Information Provision and Innovative Solutions Department of the agency to the Operative Information Center-OMM, laboratory tests revealed the presence of "Citrus Red 2," a dye strictly prohibited for use in food products. In response to the findings, the agency has initiated legal measures and sent an official appeal to the relevant Iranian authorities to suspend exports from the Sajad Babaiee production facility to Azerbaijan.
The detection of such additives is part of Azerbaijan's rigorous food safety protocols designed to protect public health and ensure that all imported agricultural products meet national and international standards. Citrus Red 2 is a synthetic dye that is restricted in many countries due to its potential carcinogenic properties. AFSA continues to monitor the domestic market and border checkpoints to prevent the entry of non-compliant and hazardous food items into the country.
