HJ Heinz Company Ltd letter on import of dry cup meals into UK
Monday 15 March 2004
Category D: For information only
Ref: 11/2004
HJ Heinz Company Ltd has issued a letter to the trade sector regarding the import into the UK, not authorised by the company, of Heinz Dry Cup meals.
The imported products are;
Heinz 98% Fat Free Pasta Meals in 76g coated cardboard containers with foil lids, in the following flavours,
- Pasta Italiano
- Pasta Mediterranean
- Pasta Marinara
Heinz Low Fat Rice Meals in 76g coated cardboard containers with foil lids, in the following flavours,
- Rice Cantonese
- Rice Chicken
- Rice Primavera
The original Best Before Date for these products was Best Before End May 2003, however some product has been found on sale with this date overstuck by an extended Best Before Date of March 2005.
There is no reason to believe that these products pose any risk to health if consumed. The complaints received regarding these products have been in relation to a bland flavour, the most probable explanation for which is that the flavourings are no longer effective due to being beyond their Best Before Date.
The implicated products,the majority of which are being sold from discount stores, are thought to be on sale throughout the UK.
To assist local authorities in correct indentification of these products pictures can be viewed from the links below
Text of the letter issued by HJ Heinz Company Ltd.
Urgent Trade Information: Heinz alert on illegal products on sale in the UK
Heinz wants to make you aware that Carlton International Trading of Manchester has allegedly extended the best before dates on Heinz 99% rice pots. These products were manufactured for sale in Australia and have since been discontinued.
Both Heinz and the Food Standards Agency are alerting consumers to this issue. There is no reason to believe that these dried rice and pasta products pose any risk to health. The bland taste is probably because the flavourings are now beyond their best before date.
The affected products are believed to be on sale in some discount stores after being imported by food brokers into the UK without the authority of Heinz. This product line is not sold in the UK by Heinz, so any of these products found on sale are likely to be from this affected batch with altered 'best before' dates.
Heinz and the Food Standards Agency are recommending that any consumer who bought these products should take them back to the store of purchase and ask for a refund.
The products, which come in 76g pots, are:
- Heinz Rice Primavera Flavour
- Heinz Rice Chicken Flavour
- Heinz Rice Cantonese Flavour
- Heinz Pasta Mediterranean Flavour
- Heinz Pasta Italiano Flavour
- Heinz Pasta Marinara Flavour
Since Heinz did not sell these illegal products in the UK, it is the responsibility of each customer to remove the products from shelf and provide refunds.
For further information, please contact your normal Heinz representative or the Heinz Consumer Care Line: 0800 528 5757.
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