Woolworths recalls some apple juice cartons due to toxins found

Woolworths is recalling its branded 100% Apple Juice 200ml cartons amid concerns over elevated levels of patulin.

“Following routine quality tests, Woolworths is recalling Woolworths branded 100% Apple Juice 200ml cartons.

“We are recalling single boxes and six-packs with the best before date of 23, 28 and 29 March 2022. It was identified that these products contain levels of patulin above the regulatory limits.

“Patulin is a naturally occurring mycotoxin commonly associated with apples,” Woolworths said in a statement on Saturday on Twitter.

This follows similar recalls from Appletiser and LiquiFruit over the same concerns.

ALSO READ: Here’s the list of recalled LiquiFruit products

Woolworths said its customers who had purchased the product, should return it to their nearest Woolies store for a full refund.

The retailer said food safety was “critically important” to its business and it took all issues regarding the production of thier food extremely seriously.

“We actively manage and prevent microbial contamination of food and have done so for years. We have strict protocols as part of our food safety management process.

“To verify the safety of our products, we implement additional monitoring where we independently have our food tested.”

For more information on the recall, Woolworths customers can contact their customer service centre on 0860 022 002.

What is patulin?

Patulin is a mycotoxin, which is a toxic compounds that is naturally produced by certain types of mould. Patulin is mainly used in fruits and fruit juices across Europe and North America, according to ScienceDirect.

Patulin is a stabilising unit used in apple and grape juices, and it may have a potential threat to humans and livestock.

The side effects include nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances and vomiting.

Patulin is often found in rotting apples and apple products.

Patulin can also occur in various mouldy fruits, grains and other foods, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

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