Social media in uproar over alleged cadmium presence in Peruvian avocados
Written and reported by Camila Gutierrez | Lee esta noticia en Español
The Peruvian avocado industry has faced a complex scenario in recent weeks due to reports alleging the presence of cadmium in the fruit.
The European Union rejected more than a dozen shipments of it after detecting batches that exceeded the established maximum limit of 0.05 mg of heavy metals per kilo of produce. In countries like Bolivia and Chile, importers of Peruvian Hass avocados also raised alarms.
A naturally occurring metal, cadmium is used in various industrial settings and is known for its toxicity when ingested or inhaled in large quantities. The World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have declared it to be carcinogenic.
In recent days, the Latin American side of social media platforms like TikTok has been filled with videos of consumers questioning the safety of Peruvian avocados and urging users not to buy the product. Scroll deep enough and you can even find "tutorials" on how to identify an avocado’s origins based on its look and feel.
Bolivian media reported that the Andean country is awaiting authorities to issue an official report on this matter, while Chile said it’s strengthening surveillance on food imports. Meanwhile, in Peru, TV broadcast channel RPP reported that Angel Manero, the country’s Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation, dismissed the claims and called them a "fable." The state secretary added that one would have to eat over half a ton of avocados per year for cadmium to be harmful, "which no one in the world consumes."
The prestige of the Peruvian avocado
In response to the controversy, the Association of Peruvian Hass Avocado Producers and Exporters (ProHass) highlighted that this variety remains a premium product in international markets. Moreover, this year Peru is projected to export more than 30,000 containers of Hass avocado to 69 destinations, the European Union being the main one.
"These shipments are carried out under strict health and quality controls, both at origin and in destination markets, as is the case with all fresh products that enter all the countries where our Hass avocado is exported," ProHass said in a statement.
So far this season, only 14 containers—0.05 percent of the total avocado volume imported into Europe—have been found positive for cadmium as part of routine control processes. ProHass said this is statistically insignificant compared to the volume exported and added that cadmium levels are within the normal range for a world-class product.
FreshFruitPortal.com, through its Spanish-speaking counterpart Portalfruticola.com, reached out to the National Agrarian Health Service of Peru, but they declined to comment.
The message from producers in Chile
As one would expect from the neighboring Andean nations, Chile’s and Peru’s avocado industries are deeply intertwined. In the wake of the social media storm—amplified by ample reports in local media outlets—Chilean producers have rapidly responded to the controversy to protect both their product and local demand.
Víctor Catán, president of the Chilean Federation of Fruit Producers (FEDEFRUTA), said his organization has “no real and reliable information proving the allegations," and underscored that it is the responsibility of the Chilean Health Ministry to verify the claims and make a statement on the matter.
The union leader noted that fruit producers assume responsibilities, chief among them, the care of the population and the environment. Regarding this subject, Catán was categorical: "All our fruit has multi-residue analysis and we comply, as required, with the protocols that the market demands."
On the other hand, in a statement sent by the Chilean Avocado Committee, the organization noted that local producers have never faced findings of this kind, highlighting the reliability of the country’s production, the fruit’s quality, and the industry's strict compliance with international phytosanitary protocols.
UPDATE— Monday, August 25, 2025, at 7:44 am EST | A previous version of this story stated that 14 containers were checked for cadmium this season. It has been updated to reflect that 14 containers have tested positive for cadmium this season.
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