Athens (AFP) - Four prominent Greek and multinational food companies recalled goods from supermarkets Tuesday after receiving a contamination threat from anarchists.

A group calling itself Green Nemesis on Monday said it had tainted several dozen units of products by Coca-Cola, Nestle, Unilever and Greek dairy giant Delta.

"We have appropriated products from the main supermarket chains in the greater Athens area," the group said in a statement posted on an anti-establishment website.

"The products have been poisoned with chlorine and hydrochloric acid," it added.

Greek authorities initially said the country's anti-terror squad was looking into the case and the food safety watchdog had also been informed.

In a joint statement the multinationals said the recall was "a preventative measure".

Delta took the same step, saying it regretted the damage inflicted on producers "and all of Greek society".

The self-styled anarchists said they had laced Unilever's Caesar salad sauce and tomato sauce as well as Coca-Cola and Nestle drinks. Delta milk was also said to have been contaminated.

"The operational aim is to sabotage the above companies, forcing them to fully withdraw their products for two weeks," the group said, declaring that they would return the allegedly tainted goods to store shelves between December 22 and January 5.

Green Nemesis made a similar claim in 2013, forcing two multinational companies to recall products.