Whole botulism-linked brand recalled in Ireland
According to a Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) notification, further investigations in Finland and Italy - where the olives were produced - have led to a decision to withdraw all Societa Cooperativa Agricola products - which include the Bio Gaudiano brand.
The FSAI originally recalled Bio Gaudiano brand organic olives stuffed with almonds on 29 October as a ‘precautionary measure’ after the two people were hospitalised with botulism.
The botulism victims – one of whom died - both consumed the olives before becoming ill.
All brand products
No cases of botulism associated with the recalled olives have been reported in Ireland.
The recall applies to all batch codes and all best before dates of a variety of Bio Gaudiano brand jarred stuffed olives, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, artichoke hearts, grilled aubergines and pates.
The UK Food Standards Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration also initiated recalls on the branded almond-stuffed olives after the Finnish outbreak.
Negative for toxins
In a letter previously sent to FoodQualityNews.com at the beginning of November, a US supplier of Bio Gaudiano products played down the contamination.
A statement from Pure Italian said: “None of the other jars of the same batch and size along with other batches and sizes of almond stuffed olives tested positive.”
The statement added that “all European and Italian lab tests of Bio Gaudiano facility and their products from around the world came back negative for any toxins.”
The FSAI has urged consumers who have these products or any products produced by Societa Cooperativa Agricola not to consume them.
FoodQualityNews.com contacted both the FSAI and Bio Gaudiano in relation to the recall and continuing investigations, but neither was available for comment.
