The European Union ordered the immediate recall of this chocolate made in Spain and requested its destruction

A Chocolate decorations made in Spain has lifted the alert of the EU Rapid Alert System for food and feed (its acronym in English is Rasf). The body dependent on the European Commission has issued a withdrawal order that affects this product manufactured in our country and from here operates at the European level.

This was identified by the authorities responsible for food safety in Cyprus Spanish pastry product uses additive E-171 Unauthorized use. This substance is banned in the European Union, so any food that contains it could endanger the health of those who consume it.

Rasf reports that this “contamination” was detected in an official market control carried out in Cyprus on August 21, in which the product was removed and destroyed before being put on sale in this country. It is unknown whether the product is for sale in Spain, its country of origin. The unit does not provide further detailsIn addition to rating the notification on a scale of “Potential risk” to health.,

Rasf, as usual, does not provide information on the producing companies or the regions where the food is marketed. As has already been the case Strawberries from MoroccoIt is limited only to providing a tool for the food control authorities of each country to exchange information on the measures taken when a food risk is detected.

FACUA-Consumers in Action has criticised this on other occasions The “little information” that appears in these food alerts at European level. In the opinion of the organization, its opaqueness causes the consumer to cast a shadow of doubt on all products, regardless of whether they are affected or not. For this reason, the association has demanded on more than one occasion that the Rasf information protocol be revised, so that it provides more detailed information about the dangerous products identified.

What is E-171 additive

Using the additive E171 The export of food or animal feed containing it has been banned by the European Commission from August 8, 2022. It is a technical substance, made from titanium dioxide (TiO2). It is made of nanoparticlesthat is, very small particles, less than 100 nanometers.

It was permitted in the European Union before January 20, 2009, when it was used as a food coloring, mainly in confectionery (candy, chewing gum…), bakery and sauces. It was commonly used in To give white colour to many food itemsFrom baked goods and fine bakery products to soups, broths and sauces, salad dressings and food supplements.

Before its ban at the European level, this additive had already been banned in other countries such as France and Holland after scientific research reported its danger to health. The work highlights the potential “genotoxicity” of TiO2 nanoparticles, that is, their Potential to cause DNA damage,

Studies have shown that titanium dioxide offers convenience as a food additive (E171) Growth of colorectal tumors Chemically induced in vivo and induced transcriptomic changes suggesting impairment of the immune system Cancer development. A 2018 study published in the scientific journal Nature suggests the same thing with regard to colon cancer.