Mass recall as road de-icing salt sold to food producers

Polish health authorities have ordered the withdrawal from the market of more than 230,000 kilos of pickles, bread and other food suspected of containing industrial salt, the latest development in a scandal raising fears about food safety.

Revelations that industrial-grade salt was sold to food producers has prompted authorities to open a criminal investigation. Five people have been arrested.

More than 600 tests have been carried out on food samples. The industrial salt was intended for de-icing roads in winter.

The withdrawn foods include vegetables preserved in salts, like pickles, sauerkraut and beets, but also includes sausages and breads and other baked goods.

Even if the salt used does not contain anything harmful, it still is not enriched with iodine, as the law requires for salt used in food, according to the state body responsible for public health.

It said that three companies in northern and western Poland are suspected of selling industrial salt to food producers. Neighbouring Czech Republic has temporarily banned edible salt imports from Poland as a precaution.