The judicial police and the federal food agency FASFC carried out a search on Tuesday morning at Stoffels Tomaten in Rijkevorsel.
According to the public prosecutor, this is an investigation into environmental violations. Because tomatoes are sensitive to the ToBRFV virus (the tomato brown rugose fruit virus, ed.), experimented with a vaccine to make tomato plants resistant to this virus, in collaboration with a Dutch company. But that happened outside a lab.
The virus does not affect the consumption of tomatoes. For this study, house searches were also carried out in houses in Beerse and Kapellen.
The ToBRFV virus can damage tomatoes, bell peppers and chilies. Fortunately, the animal poses no danger to humans and animals. The virus belongs to the tobamoviruses and is highly contagious. They are passed on through the hands, gloves, used tools or mobile phones. Furthermore, tobamoviruses can be transmitted to young plants via seed. Tobamoviruses are very persistent. When infected seed, young plants and fruits end up on the market, this virus can be spread over great distances.
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