Additive recall

- Published: 01 August, 2007

A thickening agent, used in meat and dairy products, is being recalled by a Swiss manufacturer, following fears is had been contaminated.

The firm, Unipektin, ordered the recall of several batches of a food additive containing guar gum, after worries the additive had been contaminated in India with the poison dioxin.

Dioxin is a chemical compound used in fertilisers and fungicides which can be carcinogenic in large doses.

A statement on Unipektin's website said: "The responsible authorities assume that, due to the very low quantity of guar gum used, at no time did acute danger to the health of consumers exist."

The firm said it had started efforts to retrieve the affected batches of guar gum already sent to its customers.