25 February 2010 – Further Update

The withdrawal reported on the 24 Feb. ‘10 has been extended to cover all smoked fish carrying the brand name.

“The Smoke House”

This is known to include vacuum-packed smoked bream, smoked eel, hot smoked mackerel and cold smoked mackerel, in addition to loose cold smoked mackerel.

Implicated fish products may carry the fraudulently used health mark UK 9502 EC, or may carry no health mark.

The vacuum-packs have silver or gold foil, and the flag colours may differ from that shown below

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24th February 2010 – Food Recall – “Mackeral”

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has been informed by the Food Standards Agency, Northern Ireland that smoked mackerel products have been produced in a premises in Northern Ireland which has not been registered or approved. As the products were produced in unapproved premises they do not comply with Regulation (EC) 853/2004.

The Products are unwrapped cold smoked mackerel sold loose and vacuum pack hot smoked mackerel. The vacuum pack hot smoked mackerel is labeled ‘The Smoke House’.

Some of the products bear the health mark UK 9502 EC, which is the approval number of an unrelated legitimate food business.

They have been unable to get distribution details or product traceability records for these products. It is believed to be distributed throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, mainly to businesses that sell Eastern European food products. Vacuum pack hot smoked mackerel:

The wrapped hot smoked mackerel is contained within a gold foil vacuum pack. It has a white label attached with the wording

“The Smoke House Hot Smoked Mackeral.” (Note the mis-spelling).

Mackeral Food Recall

There is also a flag emblem in colours white, blue and red and an EU Approval number (UK 9502 EC). Please note that the flag emblem and the Approval number may not always be present on the individual packs but rather on the outer boxes if available.

The Use by date is indicated, the weight in kg, the price in EURO/KG and the price in EURO.

Whilst a Use by date of the 02/03/10 is given on the packaging in the photograph please be advised that different date codes may be applied and that all date codes are implicated.

Environmental Health Officers have been requested to check food businesses in their areas that sell Eastern European food products to ascertain if these products are on sale. All such products must be withdrawn from the market and destroyed. If these products or other products labelled as ‘The Smoke House’ are found please advise FSAI at rapidalert@fsai.ie.

Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers: Food business operators should ensure they are not selling any of the implicated products. If any of these products are found they must be withdrawn and destroyed.

Do you know what to do if your business has been supplied this food?

This demonstrates the real need for Food Business Operators to have a Food Safety HACCP & Traceability System and HACCP Food Safety Training for Staff.

About Hygiene Ltd, are SAFEFOOD specialists. We provide public Food Safety & HACCP Training, and in house Food Safety advice and guidance or food hygiene courses at time to suit your needs.

If you require help setting up your system, require easy to manage HACCP forms, documentation, or need Food Hygiene and HACCP training for you and your staff contact About Hygiene Ltd, High Street, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim 071 9645111 or info@about-hygiene.com