IKEA Cake Faecal Germs Found Again in 3 Months

Chocolate parfaits and cakes on display at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila


IKEA Taiwan recently announced that its chocolate almond cake products have been taken off the shelf due to reports indicating that it contained traces of the E. Coli bacteria, on 3/8/2013

Incidentally, health authorities in China had detected contamination of IKEA-branded chocolate almond cakes last December through routine inspection, resulting in the immediate destruction of over 1,800 kilograms of the product. However, IKEA Taiwan claimed ignorance of the situation until this week.

The Shanghai quarantine bureau said it destroyed 1,872 kilos (4,100 pounds) of chocolate almond cake imported by Ikea that it said had excessive levels of coliform bacteria.

IKEA said over 1,800 Taarta Chokladkrokant cakes, which is an almond cake with chocolate, butter cream and butterscotch, had been removed from its restaurants in 23 countries, although not in Ireland or Britain.

The incidence represents the second scandal for IKEA's food products, since reports of meatballs containing horsemeat erupted in Europe. Fortunately, IKEA-branded meatballs sold in Taiwan are produced locally, and are believed to be unrelated to the situation in Europe.