Greece recalls imported sunflower oil in contamination scare

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

ATHENS (AFP) — Greece on Tuesday said it was recalling all sunflower oil imported since January after a Ukrainian batch was found to be tainted with mineral oil, sparking a two-week food scare.

"We have decided to recall the entire supply of suspect sunflower oil from the market," Development Minister Christos Folias told reporters.

The Hellenic Food Authority (EFET), whose chairman resigned Tuesday, said that all sunflower oil imported since January 1 would be seized for tests amid concern that tainted quantities may have escaped customs inspection.

The volume of oil to be seized was not specified, but EFET has already located over 6,000 tonnes of contaminated oil.

The affair has caused widespread concern in Greece where sunflower is used for...