Alert Lifted on Hawaiian Basil After Contamination Scare

State agriculture officials Saturday lifted health warnings against eating fresh sweet basil imported from Hawaii, satisfied that the tasty herb is not contaminated with a pesticide, as had been feared.

The health alert was issued Thursday after residue of the pesticide dichlorvos, a moderately to highly toxic insecticide also known as DDVP and sold under various trade names, was found on a shipment of basil from Hawaii.

Inspectors with the California Department of Food and Agriculture tested numerous samples and found no trace of dichlorvos residue, prompting cancellation of the warning.

“It appears this was an isolated problem,” CDFA official James Wells said. He said Hawaiian officials have recalled the involved crop of basil and that basil reaching markets in California after Friday is safe.

Basil is used in seasoning and in making pesto sauce for pasta.

Dichlorvos can depress the activity of a nervous system enzyme called cholinesterase and cause flu-like symptoms such as nausea, headache and diarrhea.

The pesticide residue is not dangerous to humans if the herb is used in small amounts as in seasoning, but it should not be consumed in large amounts.

No incidents of illness linked to Hawaiian basil have been reported.

A 40-pound carton of contaminated sweet basil packed in Hawaii and distributed by Bangkok Produce was discovered during routine sampling by state DFA inspectors at a Los Angeles wholesale food market Thursday morning.

The basil also was distributed to several markets in Long Beach--Vinh Heng, Heap Lee, Mekong, Kamara, River Side and Minh Than; the 99 Stores chain in the Los Angeles area, and Bong Hoa, which has five stores in Los Angeles County.