Sunflower oil recall for Greece

Greece found around 6,000 tonnes of tainted oil

Greece has ordered a recall of all sunflower oil imported since January after a batch from Ukraine was found to be contaminated.

It was found to be tainted with a type of oil that can cause serious and even fatal complications if inhaled.

Evangelos Lazos, chairman of Greece's food standards agency, resigned amid accusations the agency was too slow to stop suspect oil reaching consumers.

The agency said it had located around 6,000 tonnes of contaminated oil.

But it suspects that other batches could have been imported undetected.

France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain have also reported shipments of Ukrainian sunflower oil tainted with mineral oil.

The mineral oil is usually marketed as baby oil or make-up remover for external use only, although some doctors prescribe it as a laxative.