IKEA pulls 'poo cakes' over faeces scare

SWEDISH furniture giant Ikea has pulled almond and butterscotch cake from its store restaurants in Australia, after faecal contamination was detected.

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SWEDISH furniture giant IKEA has pulled almond and butterscotch cake from its store restaurants in Australia, after faecal contamination was detected in some batches overseas.

Traces of coliform bacteria which is linked to faecal matter was found in some cakes.

Batches of the cakes, dubbed "poo cakes" in international media reports, have been withdrawn from stores in 23 countries.

Chinese authorities destroyed 1.87 tonnes of the cakes after the bacteria was detected.

IKEA Australia said in a statement that traces of coliform bacteria had been found in two isolated production batches of the cake from one supplier in Sweden.

"There is no health risk associated with consuming this product," the company said.

"The production batches have, as per safety and quality routines, been tested for bacteria that can cause health issues, such as E.coli, and none of these pathogen bacteria have been found."

IKEA said since the product does not comply with strict food quality standards it had been withdrawn from sales in IKEA restaurants across Australia.