RECALL OF 400G “PILCHARDS IN TOMATO SAUCE” AND “PILCHARDS IN CHILLI SAUCE” PRODUCTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:2 MARCH 2020
The Competition and Fair Trading Commission would like to inform the general public that West Point Processors (South Africa) has recalled two batches of pilchards (tinned fish) products from the market. The recalled products - 400g “Pilchards in Tomato Sauce” and “Pilchards in Chilli Sauce” - have batch codes starting with ZST2 and ZSC2.
According to the company, there was a canning deficiency which could render the recalled products unfit for human consumption. The affected brands were as follows: Cape Point, Saldanha, Shoprite Ritebrand, Checkers Housebrand, U-brand and OK Housebrand".
From 24-28th February 2020, the Commission conducted a market surveillance in major supermarkets in Malawi to assess the presence of the defective batches of the pilchards on the market. The surveillance established that one of the recalled batches Saldanha ZST2 8DSM B1 00:00 whose expiry date is provided as 19/04/2021 was available on the market. Accordingly, the Commission ordered the supermarket to quarantine the product and dispose it off with the help of the Ministry of Health and the Public Health Department of the Lilongwe City Council.
The Commission would like to appeal to all local supermarkets to immediately recall the defective products and provide a full refund to consumers who bought them. Any supermarket which does not recall the defective products risks facing appropriate sanctions under the Competition and Fair Trading Act and Consumer Protection Act.
The Commission is advising consumers to critically check the material information on pilchards before purchasing or consuming the same. Further, the Commission wishes to advise consumers who may already have purchased the recalled products to return the same to the suppliers for proper disposition.
James Kaphale
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
