The International Food Safety Authorities Network has issued an alert on contamination of Brazil nuts by-product with salmonella.
The Indian apex food regulator, FSSAI, got the alert and subsequently issued a notice to all the Food Safety Commissioners for necessary action including food recall.
According to the FSSAI notice, an alert was received from INFOSAN with regard to contamination of Brazil nuts by-products, with Salmonella Anatum and Salmonella Typhimurium.
The alert was about brand ‘Eat Natural’, product ‘Brazil & sultana with peanuts and almonds’ and brand ‘Hema’, product ‘Natural bar fruits & nuts’.
These products were imported in different sizes and multi-packs with best before dates upto June 2021.
FSSAI, in a statement, informed that the implicated products were also imported to India and have been distributed within India.
“With a possibility of this product reaching consumers through online sales or by other means and considering the health risk which may be posed by consumption of these products due to contamination of the salmonella, all state food authorities are advised to take necessary action including complete recall of the product from the market,” reads the statement.
The apex food regulator has also advised consumers not to eat these products and return, if purchased, to the shop.
The FSSAI has also released the pictorial representation of the implicated products as well.
Further, it has alerted its regional offices in Delhi, Cochin, Tuticorin, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai, and sought details of import of these products.
The food regulator has also written to the Additional DG, Risk Management Division, Central Board of Excise and Customs, for ensuring that in future, no consignment of these products, released through the Customs without examination.