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The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) is investigating the case of thickener E 412 (unpolymerized guar gum) imported to the Czech Republic from India through Switzerland, some of the batches of which may contain dioxin and pentachlorophenol.

The Food Inspection Authority has been investigating the case from the moment when it received notification from the European Commission through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). The notification relates to only one batch of this substance which evidently contains dangerous contaminants and which was produced by the Indian company India Glycols LTD. Despite this, the CAFIA performed inspections at all purchasers and direct importers of guar gum originating in India, regardless the batch and the producer. The imported consignments were detained and the Inspection Authority is now performing laboratory analyses of several tens of samples. The importer of this substance, Agrana Fruit Bohemia, also immediately informed all its purchasers. The use of this thickener of Indian provenance in production of foodstuffs is now therefore not possible.

In cooperation with customs administration, other consignments of guar gum originating in India are not being placed on the market until results of laboratory analyses of official samples of these new consignments are known.

At present there is no direct risk to consumers.