Get your labels right or a recall may be coming your way
A food product recall is something that no food manufacturer goes into lightly as there is a significant cost and potentially loss of market involved.
Recalls are only enacted when there is a food safety hazard involved and once that is made public, there is always a loss of confidence in the product and, in fact, the whole brand.
There has only been one Food Product Recall in Australia which actually resulted in an increase in market share. The Arnotts extortion case was so well handled by the company that the public actually deceided to buy that brand in preference to other biscuits brands available.
This is unfortunately the exception, and most brands suffer from a product recall. These recalls may be due to microbiological issues, other contaminations, or incorrect labelling.
It is the incorrect labelling recalls which are truly the most frustrating for food companies because they are due entirely to at least one mistake made by either individuals or the processes in those businesses.
There are two current recalls as shown below which are good examples of labelling problems which end up as recalls.
In one the wrong labels has been placed into one of the labelling machines and the packed product not checked before production started. This is recall could easily have been avoided by a simple check of the first labelled bottle and a change to the rear label as required. In this case the returned product could be potentially relabelled and sent back out for sale.
The second is a bigger issue and is the result of the label design not being properly checked before it was printed, this not only means that the product has to be returned with all the costs associated with that, but will also require the reprinting of the actual label and the disposal of the current stock of labels, as well as the food involved. This is a very expensive type of recall and could have been avoided if the labels were properly checked and signed off before they were printed.
Nearly all recalls are due to something going wrong in the business, but it is the labelling based recalls which simply should not happen, if the individuals and processes in businesses are working as they should.
The two recalls notices below are from Food Standards Australia nNw Zealand and are include here with permission.
Schweppes Lemonade 1.1L
Best before: 11MAR19 with time code from 20:16 to 20:40
MANUFACTURING CODE: 3202
Available for sale in Victoria, NSW and Tasmania
Problem: An incorrect label (Schweppes Lemonade Zero Sugar) has been applied to the rear of the bottle which does not accurately describe the ingredients used in this product. The front label is correct.
Food Safety Hazard: This product contains sugar. Consumers who have a medical need to avoid sugar should not consume this product.
Where sold: Coles and IGA supermarkets as well as some independent outlets in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
What to do: Consumers who have a medical need to avoid sugar should not consume this product. Please return the product to place of purchase for a refund.
Further information: The best before date and time as well as the manufacturing code are stamped on the back of the bottle, below the label. The first line is the date and time code and the second line is the manufacturing code.
Contact details: Call the Schweppes Consumer Relations Centre on 1800 244 054 (9am until 5pm AEDT Mon – Fri).
YouFoodz Clean Paprika Chicken
260g
Use By 29.09.2018
YouFoodz PTY LTD is conducting a recall of the above product/s. The product has been available for sale via direct distribution by YouFoodz in NSW, ACT, QLD, VIC, SA, NT, WA.
Problem: The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergens (Fish, Gluten, Egg and Milk).
Food safety hazard: Any consumers who have a Fish, Gluten, Egg or Milk allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed.
What to do: Consumers who have a (Fish, Gluten, Egg or Milk) allergy or intolerance should not consume this product and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Country of Origin: Australia
For further information please contact:
YouFoodz PTY LTD
07 3633 0708
www.youfoodz.com