Chemical contamination and foreign bodies

Chemical contamination

In Australia, Parsram Foods Pty Ltd has announced that it is conducting a recall of a range of McCain imported frozen products due to potential chemical (ethylene oxide) contamination. Food products containing ethylene oxide may cause illness/ injury if consumed.

Included in the recall are: 

• McCain Aloo Tikki 400g and 1.5kg
• McCain Chilli Garlic Potato Pops 1.5kg
• McCain Chilli Garlic Potato Bites 420g
• McCain Masala Fries 420g and 1.5kg
• McCain Popular Veggie Burger Patty 1.2kg
• McCain Veggie Burger Patty 360g
• McCain Veggie Fingers 400g
• McCain Veggie Nuggets 325g.

All expiry dates up to and including 22/08/2025 are being recalled.

The products have been available for sale at Indian Grocery Stores in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.

Consumers have been told to return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund, and any concerned consumers should seek medical advice.

Foreign bodies

In the UK, Leo’s Import Export & Trading Ltd has recalled Buram Cerezli Nuts in Syrup 420g (expiry date between 30 April 2025 and 30 June 2025) due to concerns that the product may be contaminated with foreign bodies. The possible presence of an unknown foreign body subsequently makes it unsafe to eat.
The company has issued a recall notice to its customers, explaining why the product is being recalled and telling them what to do if they have bought the product.

Customers have been advised that, if they have bought the recalled product, to not eat it and instead return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund or to Leo’s Import Export & Trading Ltd for a full refund.

Further update: Risk of hydrogen cyanide release

In addition to possible contamination with foreign bodies, Leo’s Import Export & Trading Ltd has shared a further update noting that Buram Cerezli Nuts in Syrup 420g also contains apricot kernels which pose a risk to human health because of the release of hydrogen cyanide when consumed, making the product unsafe to eat.

The product recall has subsequently been updated because of the risk of hydrogen cyanide release from the apricot kernels and has been extended to include all best before dates.

Safety concerns

Also in the UK, the Isle of Wight Meat Company is recalling several Isle of Wight Meat Co Biltong due to the products having been produced without the relevant approval, making them unsafe to eat.

Included in the recall are: 

• Isle of Wight Meat Co Biltong Original
• Isle of Wight Meat Co Biltong Sweet Chilli
• Isle of Wight Meat Co Biltong Garlic
• Isle of Wight Meat Co Biltong Black Pepper.

All packs, all batches and all date codes up to and including May 2025 are being recalled.

Each of the products listed above have not been prepared in line with food hygiene and legislative requirements which makes them unsafe to eat by consumers.

Following the recall, the Isle of Wight Meat Company have shared that point of sale notices will be displayed where the products were sold, explaining to customers why the products are being recalled and telling them what to do if they have bought the products.

The advice to customers is that if they have purchased any of the recalled products, to not eat them and instead take a photograph of the packets, destroy them and email [email protected] with the photograph for a full refund.