“Inadequate evidence of traceability” has promoted the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) to order a recall of all imported frozen food products of animal origin stocked and sold from Iceland Ireland retail stores since March 3, 2023.
In addition to Iceland’s private label SKUs, a number of branded products were also on the list of more than 200 items. Among them were Birds Eye Chunky Fish Fingers, Aunt Bessie’s Gammon with Honey, Aisha’s Lamb Seekh Kebabs, Shazan Meat Samosas, Harry Ramsdens Jumbo Battered Sausages and Bernard Matthews Turkey Crowns.
The action is part of an ongoing investigation following identification of undeclared frozen food of animal origin with no accompanying documentation for goods imported into Ireland by Metron Stores Limited, trading as Iceland Ireland.
Environmental health officers have been asked to verify that the implicated imported products have been removed from store shelves and freezer cabinets, and consumers have been advised not to eat the items in question (here’s the complete product list: https://www.fsai.ie/getmedia/3cd1a061-ae28-432a-94d0-d4fbc6e1bba0/iceland-ireland-recall-product-list.pdf ).
There has been a number of incidents of non-compliance with import control legislation in relation to frozen foods of animal origin, according to a notice at the FSAI’s website. Some products entered the Irish market without pre-notification and completion of entry declarations and health certificates.
Noting that discussions have taken place with the importer about “very serious breaches of food law,” Dr. Pamela Byrne, the FSAI’s chief executive officer, stated: “To date, while we have no reports of any illness associated with implicated products from Iceland Ireland stores, in the absence of the company providing valid and correct traceability documentation as required by the law, we have to take a precautionary approach to best protect consumers, as we cannot be fully confident of the traceability and safety of these imported frozen foods of animal origin.”
Byrne added: “It is the legal responsibility of any food business importing food into Ireland to make the correct import declarations for the food they are importing.”
