Olive-pomace oil health warning

The Food Safety Authority last night advised New Zealanders not to consume any olive-pomace oils bought before last December.

The authority's director of processed foods and retail sale, Jim Sim, said the oils were likely to contain high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which had been linked to increased levels of cancer.

The warning is only for olive-pomace oil. Other grades of olive oil are processed differently and are not affected by the hydrocarbons.

Olive-pomace oil is not produced in New Zealand.