If you're a social media user, you've probably seen this product from Algeria: El Mordjene Cebon spread. It became popular thanks to TikTok, but the Ministry of Agriculture has just announced that it's banned in sale in the European Union.
El Mordjene Cebon, the Algerian Nutella star of social networks
It is certainly one of the most popular phenomena of the moment on social networks. If you spend time on TikTok, you have necessarily come across this product: the famous Algerian spread called El Mordjene and marketed by the Cebon brand. It is the phenomenon of the moment but this product risks remaining only on social networks as the Ministry of Agriculture has just announced.
Indeed, this Tuesday, September 17, we learned that An investigation was underway into this El Mordjene spread. The ministry explains that it is investigating the presence of this product on the European Union market because:
Since Algeria does not meet all the conditions necessary to allow a third country to export to the European Union goods containing dairy products intended for human consumption in compliance with European animal health and food safety requirements, the import of these goods is not authorized by the applicable regulatory framework.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000
Stocks of El Morjdene spread blocked by French customs
The investigation therefore aims to determine how this spread ended up on the European market. The Ministry of Agriculture announces that “two shipments are currently blocked at French border control posts“.
In France, Ferrero dominates the spread sector with the famous and much-maligned Nutella. The Italian company holds more than three-quarters of the market in supermarkets. Last year, Ferrero claimed to have sold nearly 90 million pots of its star product in France. An incredible performance since this represents almost three pots of Nutella sold every second. A leadership that should not change because the main French players in mass distribution do not seem interested in marketing this Algerian spread. Indeed, Auchan, Aldi, Casino and Lidl have indicated that this product would not be found on their shelves. Leclerc and Intermarché have not responded to requests. Only the distribution giant, Carrefour, has specified that he was preparing to market the El Mordjene Cebon spread within two to four weeks… provided that the product was not simply banned from sale in our countries.