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Pioneer Foods recalled some 270,000 cans of its Liqui Fruit grape juice after three consumers reported finding “tiny glass fragments” in their cans, only to discover that the glass was, in fact, harmless cream of tartar crystals.
Two-thirds of the batch of grape juice cans in question were still in the food manufacturer’s warehouses or distribution centers when the recall took place, and the remainder was being removed from supermarket shelves as a measure. precautionary. This while a private laboratory in Stellenbosch was conducting tests to confirm what glass-like “foreign objects” were.
There have been no reports that consumers have been harmed by the particles, says Pioneer Foods.
In newspaper ads published Thursday, the company said the particles had been independently discovered to be “crystals of potassium bitartrate,” a substance naturally occurring in products made from grapes, such as grape juice and wine.
“Crystallization occurs under certain conditions, such as low temperatures,” the ads read. “In this case it happened after processing and canning.”
“Potassium bitartrate is more commonly known as cream of tartar when used as a cooking aid.”
When asked to comment, Pioneer Foods CEO Tertius Carstens said that because the crystals looked exactly like glass, the company was not prepared to put its customers at risk while waiting for lab analysis results. of a sample provided by one of the claimants.
“We made the right decision,” he said. “And we continue with the recall, because although it is a natural substance and it is not toxic, those crystals should not be there,” he said.
Cartens said this was the first time crystallization had occurred in Liqui Fruit grape juice, which is produced at Pioneer’s beverage plant in Ceres.
“Consumers are still advised not to consume or dispose of the product, but to return it to the retailer where they purchased it, for a full refund,” the ad says.
“Pioneer Foods apologizes for any anxiety and concern caused while we awaited the result of the detailed analysis of the crystals.”
Professor Gunnar Sigge, director of the Department of Food Sciences at Stellenbosh University, said that the use of potassium bitartrate or tartaric acid in food within recommended levels does not pose any risk to human health.
“The FAO / WHO Codex Alimentarius General Standard for Food Additives, which follows South African legislation, lists a maximum use level in juice of 4,000 mg / kg,” he said.
• GET IN TOUCH: You can contact Wendy Knowler for advice on your consumer’s issues by email: [email protected] or on Twitter: @wendyknowler.
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