French media: Chinese tomatoes flood European market, producers at risk

Paris, May 29 (CNA) According to French media reports, Chinese tomatoes and tomato paste are quietly flooding the European market, leveraging massive production volumes and low prices. Some countries have reduced imports due to fears of domestic industry collapse, but China continues to trade with European nations that do not grow tomatoes. In Italy, where tomato sauce is a staple, scandals have erupted over mislabeled products. In 2021, authorities found that a quarter of tomato paste in a Tuscan warehouse was not Italian. In 2024, the BBC reported that some 'Italian' tomato paste in European supermarkets might originate from Xinjiang and be linked to forced labor. While industry leaders like Mutti are emphasizing transparency, the lack of mandatory origin labeling for processed foods leaves consumers in the dark.