Issued By
West Yorkshire Trading
Standards Service
FOOD
HAZARD WARNING
West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service
is
warning consumers and retailers, who may have purchased 1.5 kg tubs of
“Neelam’s Kashmira Basar – Mixed Spices for Asian Curries” (Best Before
date March 02), not to use them or remove them from sale.
Samples of the product taken in both Scunthorpe and Bradford have found
very high levels of Aflatoxins, up to 90 micrograms per kilogram. An EC
regulation is due to be introduced, which sets a limit of
5 micrograms per kilogram of aflatoxin B1 in certain spices. Only
products with the March 02 code are affected.
Aflatoxins are toxic compounds produced by a species
of mould/fungus, which may be
present in a foodstuff, even when visible mould is not seen. Aflatoxins pose a risk in that they have been
associated with liver cancer in animals and are probable human carcinogens.
Statutory limits are set on the presence of aflatoxins in food to ensure
that consumers are not exposed to any significant risks.
Because of the extremely high levels found, following discussions with
the Food Standards Agency, a Food Hazard Warning has been issued seeking the
withdrawal of this particular product from sale and its use in food preparation.
Local authorities throughout West Yorkshire and other areas, where the
product is known to have been distributed, have been alerted to ensure the
product is withdrawn.
Martin Wood, Chief Trading Standards Officer, said. “It is very important that this product is taken off sale, and any consumer who has any of the affected product with the “March 02” date should dispose of it. This shows the importance of carrying out food sampling, which monitors food standards and protects consumers.”
Richard Guthrie, Principal Officer
0113 289 8221
Steve Kaye, Principal Officer
0113 289 8229