On February 4, 2026, Malta's Food Safety and Security Authority (FSSA) — part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry for Health — issued an unambiguous directive to consumers: do not drink Kharta Khadra yerba mate tea. Two specific batches of the brand's 'Elaborada' product, sold in both white and green packaging in 250-gram quantities, had failed laboratory testing for three categories of chemical contaminants, each linked to cancer.
The affected batches — lot number 0144 (white packaging) and lot number 0234 (green packaging), both carrying a best-before date of April 2028 — were found to contain elevated levels of anthraquinone, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and benzo(a)pyrene. The authority advised consumers to either dispose of the products or return them to the point of purchase for a full refund.
The alert, while localized to Malta, carries broader implications for European food safety and shines a light on a recurring problem: the Kharta Khadra brand has appeared in EU safety alerts multiple times since at least 2019, raising serious questions about persistent quality control failures in the brand's supply chain.
The Contaminants: What Was Found and Why It Matters
The three substances detected in the Kharta Khadra samples each present distinct health risks, and their simultaneous presence in a single product is particularly concerning.
Anthraquinone is the most significant finding from a regulatory standpoint. Originally used as a pesticide for crop protection, anthraquinone is no longer approved for agricultural use within the European Union. The EU has set a maximum residue level (MRL) of 0.02 mg/kg for anthraquinone in tea and herbal infusions — a limit intentionally set at the lowest analytically detectable threshold precisely because the substance is not authorized [2]. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies anthraquinone as Group 2B — 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' — based on evidence from animal studies showing carcinogenic effects on the kidneys and liver.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a family of environmental contaminants formed during the incomplete combustion of organic matter. Several PAHs are classified as carcinogenic or probably carcinogenic to humans. Benzo(a)pyrene — a specific PAH also detected in the samples — is classified by IARC as Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans) and is the most commonly used marker compound for PAH contamination in food. The EU sets strict limits for benzo(a)pyrene in food under Commission Regulation (EU) No 835/2011.
| Contaminant | IARC Classification | EU Status | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthraquinone | Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic) | Not authorized as pesticide; MRL 0.02 mg/kg | Pesticide residue or combustion byproduct |
| PAHs (general) | Several are Group 1 or 2A | Regulated under Reg. 835/2011 | Incomplete combustion of organic matter |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans) | Strict food limits under Reg. 835/2011 | Wood smoke, industrial processes |
Kharta Khadra: A Brand Between Two Continents
To understand the significance of this alert, it is essential to understand the brand behind it. Kharta Khadra — الخارطة الخضراء in Arabic, meaning 'The Green Map' — occupies a unique position in the global yerba mate market. Unlike brands such as Yerba Madre (formerly Guayakí) or Taragüi, which target Western health-conscious consumers, Kharta Khadra is designed specifically for the Middle Eastern diaspora market.
The yerba mate itself is sourced from Argentina, the world's largest yerba mate producer, where the plant (Ilex paraguariensis) is cultivated primarily in the northeastern provinces of Misiones and Corrientes. However, Kharta Khadra is packaged and distributed from Syria, reflecting a remarkable cultural thread that connects South America to the Levant.
Yerba mate drinking in Syria, Lebanon, and other parts of the Middle East traces back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when waves of Syrian and Lebanese immigrants settled in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. These communities adopted the mate tradition and, upon returning or maintaining trade links, brought the custom back to the Levant. Today, Syria is the single largest importer of Argentine yerba mate, and mate drinking — known locally as 'maté' — is deeply embedded in daily social rituals across the country and among Syrian diaspora communities in Europe, where Kharta Khadra is a recognized household name.
A Pattern, Not an Isolated Incident
The February 2026 alert is not the first time Kharta Khadra has run afoul of European food safety standards. The EU's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) — the mechanism through which EU member states share information about food safety risks — has recorded multiple notifications related to this brand, with alerts dating back to at least 2019 [1].
In each instance, the primary concern has been anthraquinone residues exceeding the EU's strict MRL. The recurrence of these alerts over a multi-year period suggests a systemic issue rather than a one-off contamination event — pointing to either persistent problems in the agricultural practices at the source, contamination during the traditional drying and processing stages, or inadequate quality control during packaging.
| Period | Alert Details |
|---|---|
| 2019 | First documented RASFF notifications for Kharta Khadra — anthraquinone residues exceeding EU MRL |
| 2020–2024 | Intermittent RASFF alerts continue across EU member states for the same brand and contaminant |
| 2025 | Continued monitoring; brand remains under scrutiny by European food safety authorities |
| February 2026 | Malta FSSA issues public safety alert — lots 0144 and 0234 found to contain anthraquinone, PAHs, and benzo(a)pyrene |
The Processing Question: Wood Smoke and Traditional Drying
Food scientists and EU regulatory experts have identified a likely source for both the anthraquinone and PAH contamination: the traditional drying process used in yerba mate production. Unlike many modern tea production methods, yerba mate leaves are traditionally dried using direct exposure to heat and wood smoke — a process known as 'sapecado' for the initial flash-drying step, followed by prolonged drying in barbacuá (slow-drying chambers) that are often heated by wood fires.
This wood-smoke drying process can introduce both PAHs and anthraquinone as combustion byproducts that deposit directly on the leaf surface. While premium brands targeting the European and North American markets have increasingly adopted indirect heating and hot-air drying systems to minimize contamination, smaller producers or brands targeting price-sensitive markets — like those in the Middle East — may continue to rely on traditional methods with less rigorous contamination controls.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has acknowledged this processing dimension in its assessments, noting that anthraquinone in tea and herbal infusions is not always attributable to pesticide use — it can also form during combustion-based processing. However, regardless of the source, the EU's MRL applies equally, meaning any product exceeding 0.02 mg/kg is non-compliant and subject to market withdrawal.
The Silent Response
Notably absent from the public record is any official response from Kharta Khadra's producers or distributors. As of late March 2026, no public statement, press release, corrective action plan, or product recall announcement has been issued by the brand. This silence stands in stark contrast to the approach of larger industry players: when Taragüi — a major Argentine brand — faced questions about anthraquinone in European markets, the company published detailed information about its quality control protocols and invested in processing upgrades.
The lack of a public response may be partly attributable to the brand's market positioning and corporate structure. Kharta Khadra operates primarily within Middle Eastern and diaspora distribution networks, where regulatory expectations and public communications norms differ from those in the EU or North American markets. Syria's ongoing political and economic instability also complicates any organized response from a company operating within or through the country.
What Consumers Should Know
The Malta FSSA advises anyone who has purchased the affected batches to take immediate action:
- Check the packaging: The affected products are Kharta Khadra Yerba Mate Elaborada in both white and green packaging, 250g size
- Verify lot numbers: Lot 0144 (white packaging) and Lot 0234 (green packaging)
- Check best-before date: Both affected batches carry a best-before date of April 2028
- Do not consume: If you have these specific products, do not drink them under any circumstances
- Return or dispose: Return the product to the point of purchase for a refund, or dispose of it safely
- Contact authorities: Malta consumers can contact the FSSA at +356 26025000 or [email protected]
Broader Implications for the Yerba Mate Industry
The Kharta Khadra case highlights a growing tension in the global yerba mate market. As the beverage expands rapidly in Europe — the continent's market is projected to nearly double to $1.2 billion by 2035 — EU regulators are applying the same rigorous food safety standards to yerba mate that they apply to conventional teas and food products. For brands that built their distribution networks in markets with less stringent oversight, this regulatory environment presents an existential challenge.
For the yerba mate industry as a whole, recurring contamination alerts risk undermining the broader health narrative that has driven the category's growth. Yerba mate's expansion in Western markets has been built on science-backed claims of antioxidant content, metabolic benefits, and cognitive enhancement. When consumers see 'carcinogenic pesticide' and 'yerba mate' in the same headline, the reputational damage extends far beyond a single brand.
Industry leaders, including Argentina's Instituto Nacional de la Yerba Mate (INYM), face increasing pressure to establish baseline quality standards that apply to all exports — not just those destined for the premium Western market. Until then, the gap between brands investing in modern processing and those relying on traditional methods will continue to generate exactly these kinds of safety alerts, eroding consumer confidence one recall at a time.