Here’s our detailed analysis of Europe food recalls in August:
Type of products recalled
The first place on the podium goes once more to dietetic foods and food supplements, the main reason for recall being the unauthorised presence of ethylene oxide.
Instant noodles, and herbs such as turmeric, cumin and oregano were also recalled due to Ethylene oxide and other undeclared insecticides (Chlorpyrifos, 2-Chloroethanol).
Country of Origin
Most recalled foods in August were produced in France, including Reblochon cheese and live mussels recalled due to e-coli and Brie Cheese and raw milk cheese recalled due to Listeria. Ethylene Oxide was also the cause of 4 recalls of French products.
Products from China were mainly recalled due to the presence of unauthorised bamboo fiber in plastic tableware and drinking mugs. Read more about the problems with bamboo in plastic tableware in our July food recall overview.
62 food recalls did not mention the product’s country of origin.
Reasons for Recall
Insecticides Ethylene Oxide, 2-Chloroethanol and Chlorpyrifos were the cause of about one third of last month’s recalls. Bamboo fibre, and toxins Ochratoxin A (present in red quinoa and chillies seasoning) and Aflatoxins (present in organic almonds and dried figs) were also some of the main reasons for recall.
Other dangerous issues include the presence of Salmonella and allergic reactions to undeclared milk in chicken wings.
Country of Recall
Germany was once again the country with the highest number of food recalls. German authorities found what is possibly the one single food ingredient with the largest number of issues ever recorded: vine leaves in brine from Turkey with excessive levels of fungicides pyrimethanil, metalaxyl, cymoxanil, famoxadone, methoxyfenozide, dimethomorph, cyfluthrin, azoxystrobin, boscalid, fluopyram, dithiocarbamates and fenvalerate.
Among other issues, Germany also reported 2 cases of high aloin content in aloe vera drinking gel. Aloin is an irritant laxative concentrated in the yellow sap of aloe leaf. It may be the source of abdominal pain, spasm, and even hepatitis. Long-term intake of Aloe containing Aloin may stimulate electrolyte disturbances, malabsorption, metabolic acidosis, weight loss, hematuria, and albuminuria. In European countries, aloin content regulation limit is 0.1 ppm in food and beverages.
Other countries with high numbers of food recalls include France, mostly due to Ethylene Oxide and pathogens, and Belgium, due to Ethylene Oxide, undeclared sulphite in olives and cinnamon, and one case of “poor traceability for pork meat”.
See you next month for another food recall round-up! Meanwhile, don’t forget to follow SwissDeCode on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.