June 9 - The Agency wrote to organisations representing suppliers and importers of cooking oils in May to alert them to the presence in the UK of sunflower oil containing mineral oil. The oil originated in Ukraine. Since then the European Commission has imposed a temporary ban on all imports of sunflower oil from Ukraine.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has analysed samples of the affected oil and carried out a risk assessment. EFSA’s risk assessment concludes that: 'exposure to such oil, although undesirable would not be a public health concern'.
The FSA is continuing to investigate the presence of this oil in the UK and has established that sunflower oil blends, containing low quantities of the affected oil were sold by Netto Foodstores Ltd. Netto immediately removed all affected products from sale. However consumers may have bought some of these products before they were withdrawn. The affected products are:
- Netto Sunflower Oil, 1 litre
- Batch codes: LE8067, LE8134 and LE8140
Some products sold under the KTC brand are also affected. KTC products were sold nationally to smaller retailers and catering suppliers and have also been withdrawn. On the best available evidence these products do not pose a risk to consumers. The Agency is advising consumers that there is no need to stop using this sunflower oil.
The FSA will continue to investigate this incident.