List of fipronil-tainted products published

The Ministry of Agriculture has published an initial list of products sold in France that contain traces of the insecticide fipronil.

The list comprises 17 kinds of Dutch-made packaged waffles (gaufres). They were sold under multiple brands by several supermarket chains including Franprix, Leader Price, Leclerc, Monoprix and Casino. The products have been withdrawn.

Fipronil levels found in the products exceeded the maximum residue limit - but the ministry said in a statement that, 'levels observed do not pose any risk to the consumer in terms of scientific references'.

It added: "The products on this list were identified by controls carried out by Dutch companies. These non-conforming products were immediately withdrawn from sale in France by the distributors concerned."

Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert confirmed last Friday that more than 250,000 contaminated eggs had come into France from Belgium and the Netherlands, where police have reportedly arrested several company directors after the pesticide was found to have been illegally mixed in an insect spray for chickens.

Since July 20, when the scandal first broke, millions of eggs have been destroyed or removed from supermarket shelves across Europe.

Fipronil, classed as a hazardous pesticide that has been banned for use on farm animals by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, has been confirmed in food products across 17 European countries.

The ministry's list, including identifying batch numbers, is published in full here at this link.