IKEA drops paper napkin range

Retail giant IKEA said yesterday it has removed from sale in all of its Shanghai stores the paper napkins reported as substandard in a recent CCTV program.

"Out of a highly responsible attitude toward consumers, IKEA has temporarily removed the napkins pending detailed information about the products," the company said in a statement.

It said it will also continue to cooperate with local authorities.

Quality tests carried out recently by the Beijing Consumer Association found 10 of the 30 napkin samples bought at supermarkets, wholesale markets and IKEA stores in the capital were substandard, CCTV said.

Among them was IKEA's own-brand Fantastisk napkin, which the association claimed in tests of its tensile strength in wet conditions, easily fell apart and stuck to the skin. Despite the claims, IKEA said in its statement the product meets Chinese standards.