Spanish food safety authorities have found undeclared mustard in a batch of angel hair pasta from Morocco. The European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) added the case to its system. It classified the food safety risk as serious.
The product, known in Morocco as cheveux d’ange or seffa chaara, contains durum wheat semolina, water and gluten. Tests found DNA from mustard species Sinapis alba and Brassica juncea.
The tests were carried out on 19 June 2026 using PCR analysis.
The packaging did not mention mustard.
Mustard is one of the 14 allergens that must be clearly listed on prepacked food sold in the European Union. People with a mustard allergy can suffer serious reactions, including anaphylaxis.
No illnesses or allergic reactions have been linked to the batch.
The product was distributed only in Spain. Spanish authorities stopped the shipment and ordered it to be returned to the Moroccan exporter.
The case is listed under RASFF reference 2026.6890 and is classified as an “information notification for attention”.
This type of alert is used when authorities have identified a food safety issue that needs attention but does not require an emergency recall across several countries.
The case was also sent to the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN).
The public RASFF record does not name the brand or the Moroccan manufacturer.
How did mustard get into the pasta?
The alert does not say how the mustard entered the product.
Food producers can face accidental cross-contamination when different crops or ingredients are handled on the same equipment or stored in nearby facilities.
The finding is important for exporters because EU rules require food companies to clearly declare allergens.
A common product in Morocco
Angel hair pasta is widely used in Moroccan cooking. It is the main ingredient in seffa, a traditional dish often served with cinnamon and almonds or with meat.
Morocco has a large pasta and couscous industry, with companies such as Dari Couscous, Pasta Zara Morocco and Forafric’s MayMouna producing and exporting food products.
Spain is the country’s biggest trading partner in the European Union. Food shipments entering Spain are checked at border inspection posts, including those at major ports such as Algeciras and Motril.
