Controversial additive no longer in our cake, assure supermarkets

In Europe the use of preservative 216 is restricted but it's listed on some baked goods here.

Two supermarket chains say their supplier has removed a preservative from its cakes which is restricted in Europe due to health concerns.

Countdown and New World sold chocolate cake listing the additive propyl paraben, also known as preservative 216, in its ingredients.

A Japanese study showed the substance reduced sperm count in rats, which led to the additive's restriction in the European Union, but it is still approved by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

The additive was still listed in the ingredients of the "block chocolate cake" which the Herald bought from an Auckland central Countdown store on Wednesday. But a spokeswoman for Progressive - which owns Countdown supermarkets - said it no longer contained the additive.

"We are in the process of updating our labels to reflect the change."

She said the cake's supplier no longer used propyl paraben in food.

When asked if the additive was removed because of the study's results, Countdown did not respond. A spokeswoman would not say who its supplier was.

Herald columnist Wendyl Nissen bought "chocolate cake" from New World Freemans Bay on Monday which still had the ingredient listed. The Herald also noted the ingredient listed on the bakery's "chocolate muffins" at New World Queen St on Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for New World parent company Foodstuffs said their cake supplier had told them the products did not contain the additive.

It is not known if the preservative was removed following the Japanese study but the spokeswoman said that after becoming aware of the study, and due to other regulators' positions, "we feel it is appropriate for us to look into the use of this additive across our supply chain."

Wendyl Nissen said: "Surely, in the interests of their consumers, the supermarket chain should look at dropping this cake and replacing it with something which resembles the real thing, containing real food and no additives."

A spokeswoman for FSANZ said 2500mg of propyl paraben could be added to 1kg of food, just like colour or flavour.

Additives could be used only in very small concentrations, meaning the amount of propyl paraben present in the baked goods would be very low.

"Food Standards Australia New Zealand has no concerns relating to the safety of this additive," the spokeswoman said.

International bodies had established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for parabens of a maximum of 10mg per kg of bodyweight.

AUT University food science professor Owen Young said that although one study found the preservative affected rats' sexual function, the US Food and Drug Administration had concluded there was no evidence to suggest its consumption had any adverse effects on rodents, or humans.

Even if it did, for a person to consume the equivalent amount fed to rats in the Japan-based 2002 study, "they'd have to eat about 200kg of cake a day for a month", Professor Young said.