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Chinese government authorities have intervened in the storm that has broken out over Supor cookware, in a bid to reassure consumers that it is safe to use.
Supor, the largest cookware manufacturer in China and majority-owned by Tefal company Groupe SEB, found itself at the centre of a health scare earlier this month after Chinese television alleged that some of its products contained too much manganese.
Despite Supor strenuously denying the claims, Chinese retailers rushed to remove Supor cookware from their shelves and Groupe SEB’s share price took a dive.
Now, The China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, a unit of the Ministry of Health, has weighed into the argument, saying that the television report was wrong.
The Ministry told journalists at a press conference that it had conducted tests on Supor products and found that the amount of manganese released by the cookware into food during cooking complied with food safety regulations.
Following the press conference “this information was largely broadcasted [sic] by Chinese television all over the weekend in order to reassure consumers”, Groupe SEB said in a statement this week.
The statement went on: “Groupe SEB is pleased with the fact that Chinese health authorities put an end to unfounded rumours and that they confirmed that stainless steel cookware products manufactured – namely by Supor – are not dangerous for consumers’ health.”
Supor products are not sold in the UK.
