The makers of Kinder chocolate have defended the quantities of “likely carcinogens” in their chocolate, saying the substances exist “everywhere in the environment,” the Independent reports.

The company had received criticism from a German food watchdog that called for Kinder Riegel chocolate bars and two other products to be taken off sale.

Foodwatch found the products contained “dangerous” levels of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAHs), a byproduct of refining oil. MOAHs have been called “likely carcinogenic and mutagenic” by the European Food Safety Authority.

The watchdog say when they asked Ferrero, the makers of the Kinder Riegel chocolate bar to remove the products, they refused.

Now defending their actions, Ferrero said: “Traces of mineral oil exist nearly everywhere in the environment and they can be transferred to food in many different ways."

The chocolate-maker called for other companies in the supply chain to help reduce the levels of the potentially harmful substance, the Independent says.

They said: “We are working on technical solutions to minimize” the presence of MOAHs.