Why this popular nut spread from Algeria is now banned from sale in France
The spread became a surprise hit this summer, selling thousands of units
It sold up to 5,000 jars in France over the last three months
C.M.S/Shutterstock
An Algerian nut spread that recently went viral on social media has been banned from being sold in the EU, as it does not meet the health and safety requirements.
‘El Mordjene’, a chocolate hazelnut spread produced in Algeria by the Cebon brand, became popular this summer across the bloc, but particularly in France.
It sold up to 5,000 jars in the country over the last three months.
The jars were so popular that they cost up to €13 in Marseille (which has a large Algerian population), and €8.50 elsewhere.
However, the two most recent shipments of the spread were stopped by French border authorities at Marseille before they could make their way into the country, as the EU stated last Friday (September 13) that suppliers in the bloc could no longer sell the product.
“Algeria does not meet all the conditions necessary… to export goods containing dairy products intended for human consumption to the European Union,” said the French Agriculture Ministry about the blocked shipments.
The shipments have been intercepted “in order to determine the bypass mechanisms that have so far enabled this merchandise to be placed on the market,” the ministry added.
Read more: Vegan version of Nutella to launch in France
Was the spread too popular?
Many supermarkets in France– including Auchun, Aldi, Casino and Lidl, said they would no longer market the spread.
Carrefour, however, said it would stock the product on its shelves “within two to four weeks,” according to the AFP.
It is currently unknown, however, whether producers and suppliers of the spread will be able to meet the rules, and see it return to supermarket shelves.
Various commenters on social media have placed the blame for the ban on producers of rival spreads (such as Nutella), claiming these companies were concerned by the increasing popularity of the new competitor.
Read more: French supermarkets to begin ‘automatic refunds’: how will this work?
