Ikea cake recalled due to faecal contamination
The problem was announced yesterday. The discount retailer said it took the issue seriously and understood people's concerns, but emphasised there was no health risk.
Ikea said the product was produced for its in-store restaurants from one supplier in Sweden. It added that there was no health risk associated with consuming the product as it had been tested for pathogens such as harmful strains of E.coli and none had been found.
It was withdrawn in 23 countries after Chinese authorities found high levels of coliform bacteria normally found in human waste and destroyed the products late last year, but Ikea only found out this week.
'Levels not high'
An Ikea spokeswoman told this site: "The levels of the tested coliform bacteria were not high.
"The form of coliform bacteria that were detected in the batch of Almond cake is not creating a health risk, however the levels detected were above our set levels for this kind of coliform bacteria.
"For quality reasons we decided to stop sales of the two affected batches."
The move came slightly more than a week after Ikea recalled meatballs from more than 20 countries because of fears they could be contaminated with horse meat.
Reviewing production
The spokeswoman for the retailer added that it was working with the product supplier, reviewing how and when production could be resumed and the content of the meat products guaranteed.
"We continue the testing of the minced meat products. Until today only a small amount of meatballs have been discarded. The meatballs that have been withdrawn from sale are stored frozen until we can find a good sustainable solution to take care of these products.
"We are closely following the supplier’s actions to find the root cause of the problem and their corrective actions."
