Kao Corp. has stopped labeling its Econa line of cooking oils and dressings as "healthy" and "functional" due to concerns that an ingredient could metabolize into a carcinogen, according to company officials.
Econa cooking oils have been found to contain glycidol fatty acid esters, which could be converted into the carcinogenic compound glycidol in the human body, prompting the Food Safety Commission to conduct assessments of the product.
The Tokyo-based maker of detergents, toiletries, cosmetics and foods suspended shipments of the Econa series in mid-September, saying it had found its cooking oils to contain glycidol fatty acid esters at levels 10 to 182 times those found in non-Econa edible oils.
On Thursday, a public health center accepted Kao's application to withdraw authorization for the labeling.
Kao said it plans to produce an improved series of Econa products and reapply for authorization.
If Kao had not taken the voluntary action, the Consumer Affairs Agency would have revoked government authorization for the labeling.
