EU, Ukraine take action against contaminated sunflower oil

May 05, 2008
All necessary measures have been taken to remove the contaminated Ukrainian sunflower oil imported into Europe in recent weeks from the market, says the European Commission.
Most of the oil, which was contaminated with a lubricant mineral, has been destroyed following a recommendation issued by the Commission before the Labour Day holiday last week, according to the Commission's press office. 

Member States that had received contaminated sunflower oil from Ukraine were advised to withdraw all of the product from the market, including any foods containing more than 10 per cent of the contaminated oil.

Most countries have reported that all product has been withdrawn, said the Commission. Much of the oil had not anyway reached the stage of refining and so did not make it to store shelves.