Food recalls in EU – Week 3 – 2014

This week on the RASFF database (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) we have two recalls from consumers in EU, following an alert notification. Italy is not doing well this week…

– Foreign bodies: rat droppings in dates, following a consumer complaint. Origin unknown, packaged in Italy, notification from Denmark. Distributed also to Norway and Sweden;

– Allergens: undeclared milk ingredient in biscuits, following an official control on the market. Origin Italy, notification from Slovenia.

Between the  information for follow-up, we have another recall:

– Residues of veterinary medicinal products: prohibited substance chloramphenicol in papaine enzyme formulations, following company’s own check. Origin raw materials Democratic Republic of Congo, notification from United Kingdom, distributed also to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Romania, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.

Between the alert notifications, followed by a withdrawal from the market of the product:

– Pathogenic micro-organisms: Bacillus cereus in aromatic herbs mix, following a food poisoning. Origin Germany, notification from France;

– Mycotoxins: ochratoxin A in garlic powder, following an official control on the market. Origin India, notification from Netherlands, distributed also to Poland, France and Hungary;

– Composition: high content of morphine in poppy seeds, following an official control on the market. Origin Hungary, notification from Czech Republic, distributed also to Slovakia and Poland;

– Heavy metals: mercury in frozen mako, following an official control on the market. Origin Spain, notification from Italy;

– Pathogenic micro-organisms: Salmonella spp. in spices mix, following an official control on the market. Origin of the raw materials unknown, packaged and notification from France, distributed also to Belgium;

– Heavy metals: mercury in mako, following an official control on the market. Origin Spain, notification from Italy;

– Heavy metals: mercury in swordfish loins, following an official control on the market. Origin Spain, notification from Italy;

– Residues of veterinary medicinal products: unauthorised substance leucomalachite green in frozen Climbing perch, following an official control on the market. Origin Vietnam, notification from Germany (via Netherlands).

In Belgium we have also a seizure of chilled chicken fillets for a suspect of fraud related to indication of origin. Origin Belgium, distributed also to Netherlands.

Regarding border rejections we have, among the others, Salmonella Heidelberg in frozen marinated chicken and in frozen salted chicken breast fillets from Brazil, Salmonella group C1 in frozen salted chickenbreast fillets from Thailand and Salmonella spp. in frozen clams from Vietnam. Aflatoxins in unshelled pistachios, pistachio bars, hazelnut kernels and in roasted mixed nuts from Turkey, in pistachio nuts from the United Sates, in raw peanuts without shell and blanched peanuts from Brazil, in almonds from Australia and in blanched peanut kernels from China. Thawing of and unsuitable means of transport for bulk frozen sepia from India, chloramphenicol in frozen red swamp crayfish from China, poor temperature control of frozen tuna loins from the Philippines and of frozen hake from Argentina, parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilles mackerels from Morocco. Unauthorised irradiation of ginkgo biloba extract from China, imidacloprid and unauthorised substance diafenthiuron in chinese green tea from Hong Kong, profenofos and tebuconazole in centella from Sri Lanka, Salmonella spp., profenofos and triazophos in curry leaves from India, parathion-methyl in chickpeas from India, formetanate in fresh peppers from Turkey, monocrotophos in okra from India, unauthorised substance carbofuran in aubergines from the Dominican Republic and unauthorised substance dichlorvos in oloyin beans from Nigeria.

For feed we have border rejections for Salmonella spp. in dog chew from India, aflatoxins in groundnut kernels for birdfeed from Sudan, too high count of Enterobacteriaceae in fish meal from Chile, Salmonella Braenderup in roasted guar meal from India.

For food contact materials we have an alert notification, followed by a recall from consumers, for migration of cadmium and lead (heavy metals) from glasses. Origin China (via Netherlands), notification from Poland.

Related articles

• Food recalls in EU – Week 2 – 2014 (www.foodlawlatest.com)
• Food recalls in EU – Week 1 – 2014 (www.foodlawlatest.com)
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• Food recalls in EU – Week 51 (www.foodlawlatest.com)
• Food recalls in EU – Week 50 (www.foodlawlatest.com)