Recalled food items…Analyst Dept. warns local distributors about proper documentation

Mar 30, 2015 News

Director of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department, (GAFDD) Marlon Cole has warned local distributors about the dangers of not having adequate documentation which will allow traceability of goods circulated to the marketplaces, in the event of a product recall.
The issue came to the forefront following the recall of boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, recently.
Last week, some 242,000 cases of the brand (6.5 million boxes of original flavour Kraft Macaroni and Cheese) were recalled, after the US –based Kraft Foods Group issued a statement indicating that some were being voluntarily recalled due to possible metal contamination.
These boxes were sold throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, Caribbean and some South American countries, the company said. However, none was shipped or sold in Canada.
The recalled batch has been labeled “best when used by” dates ranging from Sept. 18, 2015 through Oct. 11, 2015 and is marked with the code “C2.
According to Kraft Food Groups, the boxes are each 7.25-ounce in weight and some of the products were also packaged in multi-pack units with a range of different code dates and manufacturing codes on the boxes. Kraft had indicated that eight consumer complaints had been logged about the product, but there have been no reported injuries.
Subsequent to the announcement, the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department, (GAFDD) launched investigations within the local markets. However, the GAFDD official has said that investigations thus far indicate that recalled products has had little or no effect on local consumer.
Cole explained that within the past week, the department has teamed up with Toucan Industries; the sole authorised distributor of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese in Guyana to carry out an adequate probe into the issue.
He said that investigations have revealed that about 4% (976 cases) of the affected products were imported and distributed to local buyers last November and December but the quantity which would have been in high demand during the Christmas period has been already consumed.
The GAFDD official said too that as a result, Toucan Industries has received no returns or complaints about the product which is said to have been contaminated with small pieces of metal.
Cole noted however that although one issue seems to have been resolved, the issue of distributors acquiring the proper documentation for which items they intend to import for marketplace consumption is being underlined since it allows for adequate traceability, should a product be recalled.
In this regard, the official noted that Toucan Industries has a foolproof system, given that the company buys directly from the makers of Kraft Groups which allows for the product to be accompanied with certification of the relevant food safety authorities such as the New York State Department of Agriculture.
This, he said coupled with the information released from the company, allows for proper traceability of items. Cole held that all legitimate importers should deal directly with the makers of products.
“Some persons would buy on the open market but they would not to get the relevant documents to allow for traceability … If you are going to import any item, particularly food items, it should be accompanied with the health certificate free sale certificate from the competent regulatory departments,” the official explained, adding that further steps are being taken by the department to enforce these requirements.
Traceability and adequate documentation, the official held is of utmost importance in terms of safeguarding the consumer as well the distributor since it allows for the latter to adequately make claims for reimbursement when there is an issue with the product. He concluded that checks made to sellers of product outside of the official distributor have so far unearthed none of the recalled item.

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Recalled food items…Analyst Dept. warns local distributors about proper documentation

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Recalled food items…Analyst Dept. warns local distributors about proper documentation

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