Christmas treats given health all-clear

Fine foods: Traditional cakes given all-clear

Mince pies and Christmas cakes have been declared free of a potentially toxic mould after fears prompted a testing programme.

The Food Standards Agency looked at 200 products containing dried vine fruits.

They found that only one - an Iceland cake - exceeded recommended levels of a chemical called ochratoxin A.

And even this product was only very marginally over the limit.

Ochratoxin A is produced naturally by certain moulds that can grow on vine fruit such as grapes.

It has been linked - in high concentrations - to kidney disease and cancer.

Mould check

Quality assurance techniques during production should root out mouldy fruit and make sure very little gets into food products.

There were concerns that our traditional Christmas recipes for mince pies, Christmas puddings and cakes might harbour higher than recommended levels.

However, the FSA testing programme found the vast majority came in well below the safety limits.

Steve Wearne, the FSA's Head of Chemical Contaminants, said: "This result provides reassurance about the quality of dried fruit used in Christmas puddings, mince pied and other similar seasonal treats.

"However, we will continue to monitor both dried vine fruits and other food for ochratoxin A contamination."

The company whose product came in over the safety limit are to be contacted to check their manufacturing procedures.

However, the other health disadvantages of Christmas treats - particularly when consumed in large quantities - remain in place.