The food authority board Fødevarestyrelsen has set up a working group to test cinnamon rolls from different manufacturers to establish how much of the toxic chemical coumarin the tasty treats actually contain.
High levels of coumarin are dangerous for the liver and kidneys and a new EU directive was issued to limit the amount of the chemical consumers are exposed to.
While the directive allows for higher levels of coumarin in baked products that member states classify as traditional or seasonal, Fødevaretyrelsen decided that cinnamon rolls fall under neither category and therefore must comply with the lower threshold.
READ MORE: Cinnamon rolls under threat from EU legislation
Safety first
The decision was widely condemned by bakers who foresaw the death of cinnamon rolls.
But following a meeting between Fødevarestyrelsen, the association of bakers (Danske Bager- og Konditormestre) and other representatives of the retail industry, it was decided to set up a working group to save the cinnamon roll.
"It should still be possible to produce and sell cinnamon rolls in Denmark, but consumers should not run a risk when they eat cinnamon rolls or other baked products containing cinnamon,” the agency stated in a press release.
More information
The results of the tests of cinnamon rolls from different producers will be used to develop best practice guidelines for bakers.
Fødevarestyrelsen has also promised to examine whether there is a need to increase the level of information consumers receive about coumarin in order to limit the amount consumed, especially by children.
