France Recalls Moroccan Clay Cups Over Health Risks

Marrakech – French health authorities have ordered an immediate recall of unglazed clay cups from Morocco after tests revealed dangerous levels of heavy metals.

The products, sold at the ALMADINA SOUK ELMAGHREB store in Béziers, southern France, are said to contain excessive amounts of aluminum, arsenic, and cobalt that pose significant health risks to consumers.

The official recall notice, published on September 12, on the French government’s product safety alert website rappel.conso.gouv.fr, specifically targets traditional terracotta cups with distinctive black rims and decorative black dots around their exterior. No specific batch numbers were identified for these products.

“Laboratory tests have shown these cups exceed safety thresholds for aluminum, arsenic, and cobalt levels,” states the official document. “These substances present a danger to human health when exposure occurs at elevated levels.”

French authorities have instructed consumers who purchased these items to immediately stop using them and return them to the store.

Customers can receive either a full refund or a product exchange until October 31, which marks the end date of the recall procedure. A contact number has been provided for additional information.

The traditional Moroccan cups originate primarily from Safi, a major pottery hub known for its red clay workshops, with variants also produced near Marrakesh and Oued Laou.

These unglazed clay vessels are valued for their natural cooling properties – their microporous walls allow tiny amounts of water to evaporate through the surface, creating a cooling effect similar to the “desert fridge” principle used in traditional Moroccan water jars called “gargoulettes.”

The French consumer protection platform has urged people to share this information widely, especially if the products were gifted or resold to others. “The goal is to prevent further use of these items to avoid potential health damage related to heavy metal poisoning,” the alert stresses.

Care instructions typically recommend rinsing unglazed pottery before first use, hand-washing without harsh detergents to maintain the functional pores.

However, in this case, authorities stress these specific recalled items should not be used under any circumstances, regardless of cleaning methods.