Notification of product recall

05 July 2012

We sent a communication out to all of our processor licensees last night and have repeated this below:

We have been notified by one of our licensees of a positive residue detection of didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) above the Maximum Residue Level (MRL).

We are notifying all our licensed processing operators in order to ensure effective communication of this recall.

The affected products are:
Sun Valley South African Lemons
Sun Valley South African Oranges
Sun Valley South African Clementines
Sun Valley South African Nova Mandarins

The Food Standards Agency and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have confirmed that the affected fruit should not be placed on the EU market for sale either as organic or non-organic. However, this is not an issue of food safety and as a result there is no requirement for recall from consumers.

Defra has confirmed to us that the organic status of these products must be withdrawn because a prohibited substance has been used at levels significantly higher than the MRL. They are also of the view that the affected products on sale should be withdrawn from sale as organic. This will require removal from retail shelves.

Defra has requested that any queries should go to organic.imports@defra.gsi.gov.uk

If operators have any of these products in stock, they must be removed from sale. If they have any amount of the affected products on site it must be disposed of in line with local authority requirements.

The problem has been identified and isolated and the organic control body certifying the affected packhouse is preventing any further sales of the products until the matter is resolved and all tests show no detectable levels. They expect that organic supplies may resume in three to four weeks' time.

If you have any queries, please contact your Certification Officer.