Food and drink recalls in 2014 – in pictures
The FSA issues information about product withdrawals and recalls to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food.
Sainsbury was forced to withdraw its own-label pitted green olives due to a possible contamination with small pieces of glass, last week.
Third time this year
This was the third time this year the retailer has had to recall a batch of its own-label products, after its frozen Sticky Toffee Sponge Pudding was feared to be contaminated with metal and its SO Organic Sultanas were deemed a salmonella risk.
A Product Withdrawal Information Notice or a Product Recall Information Notice is issued where a solution to the problem has been put in place – the product has been, or is being, withdrawn from sale or recalled from consumers, the FSA said.
A Food Alert for Action is issued where intervention by enforcement authorities is required. These notices and alerts are often issued in conjunction with a product withdrawal or recall by a manufacturer, retailer or distributor.
There have been nine product recalls for food safety reasons this year.
Allergy concerns
However, 24 products were recalled due to allergy concerns.
The majority of these products were recalled when they were found to contain an ingredient that could cause an allergic reaction – such as wheat, milk and peanuts.
Sainsbury, Marks & Spencer, Asda, Lidl, Harrods and Tesco all had own-label products withdrawn for allergy reasons.
Karro Food Group, Mars and Unilever have also all been forced to recall products since January 2014.
An FSA spokesman said providing clear and accurate allergen information was key to enabling food allergic consumers to protect their health and to manage their diets effectively.
“In the event of incorrect allergen information being provided for a food, the FSA works closely with the local authorities, food business and the allergy support organisations,” he added.
“We ensure necessary actions are taken to assess the risk to the consumer, manage the problem and to communicate the issue to consumers and businesses. During these cases we work with businesses to review their processes, identify the cause of the problem and to instigate corrective action to prevent the problem occurring.”
The 24 products recalled or withdrawn for allergy reasons were:
Uncle Ben’s Special – Chinese Style Rice, Ainsley Harriott Amazing Grains Lentil Dahl, Slimfast Meal Bars, Elakkia Jaffna Mixture, Lidl Ocean Sea Rollmops, Sugar Coated Mixed Fruit, Holy Lan Bakewell Slices, One Stop Crispy Potato Slices, Li Li Handmade Chicken and Pork Dumplings, Karro Food Group Sausage Rolls, Dunnes Stores, Lidl Ireland and McColgan’s Sausage Rolls, Kettle Sweet Potato Chips Fabulous FreeFrom Factory Dairy Free Chocovered Raisins, Mazza Tinned Sweet Products, Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Roasted Chestnut, Toasted Hazelnut & Thyme Stuffing, Marks & Spencer Lightly Dusted Salt and Pepper British Chicken Fillets, Tesco ‘Free From’ Digestive Biscuits, Asda Breaded Alaska Pollock Fillets, Goupie Chocolate, Asda Free From Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Shazans Beef Burgers and Lamb Burgers, Harrods Chinese New Year Gold Coins Bags, Sainsbury’s Bakewell Slices and Marks & Spencer Count on Us Bengali Cod Curry.