Madrid, Apr. 25 - Spain's food safety agency warned Friday against consuming sunflower oil after a batch from the Ukraine was found to be contaminated with hydrocarbons, although it said there was no health risk.
The head of the health ministry's food and nutrition safety agency, Jose Ignacio Arranz, said the amount of toxins detected was very low but it decided to urge caution until it could determine which brands were affected.
"This is a precautionary measure," Arranz told Cadena Ser radio. "We know that the majority of sunflower oil is most likely not contaminated, but faced with a doubt we have an obligation to protect health."
He said Spain was informed of the contaminated sunflower oil by French authorities who are also considering issuing a warning.
Several supermarket chains were taking all brands of sunflower seed oil which used oil from Ukraine off their shelves, Spanish media reported.