Eba Kandovazu
THE Ministry of Health and Social Services has addressed a letter to all health regional directors and Chief executive officers of local authorities instructing them to immediately recall some canned products belonging to the KOO and Hugo brands.
In the directive, Executive Director Ben Nangombe requested all Environmental Health Practitioners in the ministry, town councils and municipalities to recall the products for the safety of customers.
The canned products forming part of the recall cover a number of KOO canned vegetable products, pilchard, as well as Hugo’s baked beans and Helderberg peas that were canned between 1 May 2019 and 5 May 2021.
“The recall excludes all KOO canned products, KOO pilchards and KOO products packaged in glass,” Nangombe stated.
Nangombe’s directive follows a communication in July 2021 by the product manufacturer Tiger Brands, in which it stated that they have identified a deficiency in the side seam weld that could lead to cans developing a leak.
“No health issues due to the potentially leaky cans have been reported to date. Although the likelihood of a health safety risk is extremely low, matters of quality and food safety are non negotiable for Tiger Brands. The company, in consultation with the National Consumer Commission, therefore made the decision to initiate a voluntary withdrawal in the best interest of the consumers,” Chief Customer Officer Luigi Ferrini said.
