In a prime-time investigative program aired on February 26, journalists of an independent Polish television station TVN presented evidence of industrial salt - obtained as a waste by-product of calcium chloride production and containing dangerous carcinogens - being sold wholesale to the food industry as edible salt.
According to information obtained by TVN following a 6-month long investigation, three Polish businesses have been purchasing 1000 tons per month of industrial salt - labeled as a waste product allowed to be used only for de-icing of roads or in chemical industry - from one of the largest fertilizer producers in Poland - Anwil S.A. After repackaging, it was being resold as edible salt to numerous meat and fish processing plants, bakeries and wholesalers.
Independent laboratory tests confirmed this salt - commonly called a road salt and used for de-icing of roads and sidewalks in winter - to contain toxic compounds that in a human body can produce carcinogenic dioxins.
As a result tens of thousands of tons of carcinogenic unedible salt - over a period of as long as 10 years - have been introduced into the food supply in Poland. An investigation has been launched and some arrests have already been made, but the Polish government still has not released any information about food processing plants that ended up buying unedible salt and specific products that might have been contaminated as a result, including any possible products shipped for export.
In fact, as of March 4, 2012, Poland is in violation of EU law because of failure to report this massive food contamination to European Union's RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) which should be done immediately after discovery of the problem. On March 2, Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries issued a warning and advised avoiding Polish food products because of possible contamination with road salt.
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Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries warning:
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