The National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) prohibited the sale and production of a traditional Mexican food, through its Official Gazette.
The organism vetoed the production of “cricket salt”, since some of its ingredients are not authorized for consumption in the country, according to the report of the ANMAT.
For this reason, the ANMAT prohibits “the production, fractionation and marketing throughout the national territory and on online sales platforms of the product: Sal de crickets – Recipe from Mexico brand Chepulines”.
This, given that “in the Argentine Food Code (CAA) the use of crickets as an ingredient is not contemplated”and consequently, its consumption could represent a health risk.
What reasons did the ANMAT have to ban this product?
After conducting an investigation, the organism was able to verify that Sal de Crickets is a food that lacks “sanitary records”, and since it is falsely labeled, it is considered an illegal product.
The decision was made after receiving “a complaint in the Department of Food and Nutritional Surveillance of Food of the National Food Institute (INAL)”.
Said complaint established that the product did not comply with “current regulations”, so an inspection was requested at the Jonny’sMarket establishment in CABA, where the item was sold.
In addition, through the General Directorate of Hygiene and Food Safety, It was possible to corroborate that the establishment with the company name “Chepulines” did not have records of the product in question.
Consequently, the “Sal de crickets – Recipe from Mexico brand Chepulines – CH – Cocina Ento Net weight 60 g, expiry date was removed from the market. JUN 10, 2022, Prepared by Chepulines, City of Buenos Aires – CP 1425, Argentine Industry”.
Therefore, from now on, this product cannot be manufactured or marketed anywhere in the country, a restriction that also applies to sales through virtual channels.
