French Supermarket Chain Recalls House Brand After Detecting Contaminant

By Ofeoritse Daibo

Mar. 18, 2025 15:43 UTC

Summary

Monoprix in France has issued a voluntary recall of its 750 milliliter extra virgin olive oil due to excessive mineral oil hydrocarbons, which may pose health risks, leading to online debates and consumer concerns. The recall is part of France’s frequent proactive approach to food safety, with over 6,000 food products recalled in the past two years for various issues, emphasizing the importance of stringent quality checks to protect consumers.

Monoprix, one of the largest supermarkets and retailers in France, has announced a voluntary recall of its 750 milliliter extra virgin olive oil from the Monoprix Bio brand. Customers are advised “not to consume the product, to return it to the point of sale and to contact customer service.”

The store made the announcement after it detected mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOAH) that exceeded European safety standards.

Due to stringent safety standards, voluntary recalls are frequent in France, particularly in the food industry. These recalls are often viewed as a proactive approach to preventing potential fines or harm to reputation.

“The protection of consumers, whether in terms of their safety or purchasing power, remains at the heart of the DGCCRF’s mission,” said Sarah Lacoche, Director General of the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), during a press conference.

“In 2024, nearly 65,000 establishments and websites were inspected, resulting in over 2,300 fines and 3,350 criminal reports submitted to the judiciary,” she added.

Following the announcement, platforms like RappelConso and media outlets highlighted the potential health risks of MOAH, which may contain carcinogenic compounds.

They warned that prolonged exposure or ingestion could lead to serious health issues. This sparked significant online debate, particularly on the social media platform X, where consumers expressed frustration over ongoing quality problems in food products.

“Olive oil is supposed to be a symbol of health, not a health risk. We need stricter quality checks,” one user wrote.

“I buy organic for the sake of my family’s health, not to worry about MOAH contamination. Fix this, Monoprix,” added another.

A third commenter questioned how the contaminated olive oil made it onto the supermarket shelves.

Many view the presence of toxic substances as a profound breach of trust, and those who consumed the product are profoundly unsettled and have raised concerns about the direct health consequences of exposure to MOAH. Some individuals have expressed fear over the long-term risks to their health.

The affected product was distributed across France through Monoprix and Monop’ stores between November 6, 2024, and February 28, 2025. Authorities have advised consumers to return the product to their nearest retail location for a full refund, available until April 15, 2025.

Over the past two years, nearly 6,000 food products have been recalled for contamination and labeling errors.

Over 2,000 recalls were issued in 2023 alone, with potential Listeria contamination, undeclared allergens and packaging issues being the most frequent causes.

That same year, France’s National Consumer Institute found that 23 of 24 samples of organic and non-organic olive oil brands contained contamination from plasticizers and mineral oil hydrocarbons.

Monoprix was previously fined in October 2024 for a product-related issue involving its Monoprix Gourmet smoked salmon.

Hong Kong’s Center for Food Safety (CFS) investigated the contamination of Monoprix Gourmet smoked salmon with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium, collaborating with French authorities to address public health concerns.

French Supermarket Chain Recalls House Brand After Detecting Contaminant

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