Hungary bans sale of paprika after toxin discovered in product from three companies
BUDAPEST, Hungary Hungary has banned the sale of its signature spice, paprika. The Health Ministry announced the ban today and says it's necessary because a moldy toxin was found in spice sold by three of the largest companies. People are also being urged to throw away whatever supplies they have at home.
The toxin, known as aflatoxin, can be dangerous to people if they consume more than one pound of paprika a week. The average Hungarian consumes about that much in a year.
The Health Ministry believes distributors mixed South American paprika -- which may contain the toxin -- with Hungarian paprika and sold it as Hungarian.
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