Lignesa Foods Ltd recalls all date codes of 'Samsono' brand Ears and Tongue Roll due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes
Wednesday 22 October 2008
Food Alert: for Action
Ref: 57/2008
Lignesa Foods Ltd has recalled from sale all date codes of product labelled with 'Samsono' brand Ears and Tongue Roll due to contamination with high levels of Listeria monocytogenes.
The affected product was exported by JSC 'Samsonas' in Lithuania, imported into the UK by Lignesa Foods Ltd and distributed mainly to Eastern European specialty food shops. In addition, the Agency is also investigating whether this product could have been imported via other routes.
The levels of Listeria monocytogenes detected were up to 2.8 x 106 cfu/g, well above the legal limit of 100 cfu/g set in the Microbiological Criteria Regulation (EC) 2073/2005. Listeria monocytogenes was detected above the legal limit in 17 out of the 18 samples taken from a range of premises including the importer. Therefore, this product may pose a serious risk to human health.
Lignesa Foods Ltd has undertaken a product recall and is displaying point of sale notices in all stores supplied. These notices alert customers to the recall and advise them of what actions to take if they have purchased the affected product. The Agency is also contacting media in the UK that serves the Lithuanian community to alert them to this incident.
Product details
The product recalled is:
- Samsono Ears and Tongue Roll
- All date codes
- All sizes
- EC approval number: LT 84-07 EB
An image of the product can be found at the link below.
Actions to be taken by local authorities
As this product may pose a serious risk to human health and given the uncertainty of other distribution routes, local authorities are requested to contact specialist Eastern European food shops in their area to determine whether 'Samsono' Ear and Tongue Roll in similar packaging to the picture (see link below) has been supplied to the premises.
If the product imported by Lignesa Foods Ltd is found to be on the premises, officers should:
- remove the product using powers under the Food Safety Act 1990
- encourage food business operators to display point of sale notices explaining the reasons for recall to consumers
If the product is labelled with an importer’s name other than Lignesa Foods Ltd, officers should:
- obtain full details of where the product has been received from and distributed to
- detain the product and test for Listeria monocytogenes
- inform the Agency of the above information
Other local authorities are also requested to have regard to these products being present on the market during their routine inspections.
It is essential that all non-unitary authorities liaise at county level to ensure that they co-ordinate their actions.
Related links
(pdf 340KB)