Consumers across the South Island are being urged to check Vogel's bread with a best-before date of 15 August after a precautionary recall involving the possible presence of small pieces of metal. New Zealand Food Safety says there have been no reported injuries or consumer complaints, but affected products should not be eaten
eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Bill Hickman for RNZ HERE.
New Zealand Food Safety is supporting Goodman Fielder New Zealand in the recall of several Vogel's bread products sold across the South Island after concerns they may contain small pieces of metal.
NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said consumers who purchased Vogel's bread in the South Island with a best-before date of 15 August should check whether their loaf is among the affected varieties.
If it is, the advice is straightforward: do not eat it.
Consumers should return affected bread to the place of purchase for a refund or, if returning it is not possible, dispose of it.
Which Vogel's Breads Are Being Recalled?
The recall covers six products:
- Vogel's Original Mixed Grain Very Thin (750g)
- Vogel's Original Mixed Grain Sandwich (750g)
- Vogel's Original Mixed Grain Toast (750g)
- Vogel's Dark Rye Toast (720g)
- Vogel's Sprouted Whole Grain Toast (720g)
- Vogel's Fruit and Spice Extra Thick (720g)
The affected products were sold at stores throughout the South Island.
NZFS says the products have now been removed from store shelves and none of the affected bread was exported.
No other Vogel's products are affected by the recall.
Around 8000 Loaves Affected
According to Arbuckle, approximately 8000 loaves are involved.
The problem was discovered through Goodman Fielder's own post-production testing.
The company uses metal-detection equipment as part of its production process. Detections prompted further investigation, which indicated some affected bread may already have left the factory and entered the retail supply chain.
Arbuckle said it was still early in the investigation, but the working assumption was that some form of mechanical failure had occurred during production, potentially introducing very small metal fragments into the bread.
No Injuries Reported
Importantly, NZFS says there have been no reports of injuries or consumer complaints associated with the affected bread.
However, authorities do not yet know the size or prevalence of any potential metal fragments.
That uncertainty is why the recall has been initiated rather than waiting to establish whether consumers have actually encountered foreign material.
Arbuckle characterised the action as a proactive and preventative recall and said Goodman Fielder had acted responsibly by alerting consumers quickly.
How Did the Bread Reach Stores?
New Zealand Food Safety was notified of the issue on Tuesday, although Arbuckle said the production fault was believed to have occurred approximately two or three days earlier.
That appears to have provided enough time for some of the affected product to move through the distribution system and reach supermarket shelves.
Once the problem was identified, products still on shelves were withdrawn and the consumer recall followed.
The recall therefore applies not only to bread remaining in supermarkets but also to affected loaves consumers may already have at home.
What Consumers Should Do
If you are in the South Island and have recently purchased Vogel's bread:
Check the best-before date first.
If it is 15 August, check the variety against the six recalled products listed above.
If your loaf is one of those products, do not eat it. Return it to the retailer for a refund or dispose of it if returning it is impractical.
Consumers with Vogel's products outside the recall list do not need to take action on the basis of this recall.
The fact that no injuries have been reported is reassuring, but the possibility of metal fragments makes this a food-safety warning worth checking before the next slice goes into the toaster.
Source
Original reporting by Bill Hickman, Journalist, RNZ. Information and original supplied image reproduced from the RNZ report.