More ink-tainted food found in Italy

An Italian consumers' association said yesterday it had found numerous food products sold in Tetra Pak cartons that were contaminated with traces of ink, not just baby milk products that have been the target of a high-profile recall.

Italian police last week confiscated baby milk products from Swiss food giant Nestle and Dutch group Numico after discovering they contained traces of an ink component used in the printing process for Tetra Pak cartons.

Altroconsumo said yesterday that tests had found traces of the ink component, isopropylthioxanthone (ITX), in nine out of 25 samples of fruit juices, milk and cream sold by various producers. It urged a recall of all the products in question.

Tetra Pak could not be immediately reached for comment.

But Italian news agency ANSA quoted the Swedish packaging giant as saying the report was "false" and it had ordered its lawyers to take action against the consumer association.

European Union and Italian health experts have said the ITX chemical substance was not harmful, but Nestle has recalled baby milk products from four European countries, including Italy, as a precaution.

Altroconsumo said it had sent the results of its tests to magistrates investigating the baby milk case.