Benzoates in Hollywood Distributions brand baby bottle artificially flavoured drink on a candy, in various flavours

Wednesday 12 January 2005

Food Alert: for Action

Ref: 01/2005

Heads of Environmental Health and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware that Hollywood Distributions Ltd Brand �Baby Bottle Artificially Flavoured Drink on a Candy�, Sour Orange, Sour Strawberry, Sour Cherry and Sour Apple Flavas have been found to contain levels higher than the permitted maximum level of benzoates expressed as benzoic acid as specified in the Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations 1995. It is known that benzoates are associated with urticaria (nettle rash) in some people.

Description of the Product

Brand Name: Hollywood Distributions Baby Bottle

Product Name: Drink on a Candy �Sour Orange Flava�, �Sour Strawberry Flava�, �Sour Cherry Flava� and �Sour Apple Flava�.

Pack Size: Candy 15g; Liquid 80ml

Best Before End: 31 July 2006

Country of Origin: China

Identification of Product

The product is in the shape of a baby�s bottle. The teat is candy and the content of the bottle is a coloured liquid, appropriate to the flavour mentioned on the label. The product has a yellow label with �baby bottle� in red writing on a green background, with a picture of a cartoon baby.

Distribution of Product

Hollywood Distributions Ltd., supply the product to distribution companies who then distributed the product to small newsagents nationally. The supply contract was on a sale or return basis, for a fixed period of two months, commencing in September 2004. Any unsold product should have been returned to the Hollywood Distribution centre in Liverpool, or disposed of by customers.

Hollywood Distributions Ltd., has not instigated a product recall, as they believe it is unlikely that any of the product is still on the market.

Action to be taken by Local Authorities

The product exceeds the maximum level for benzoates expressed as benzoic acid in the Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations 1995. The powers under section 9 of the Food Safety Act 1990 are available by virtue of regulation 6 of the Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations 1995. If any of this product is found on sale during routine inspections, enforcement officers should ensure that it is removed from sale, if necessary using these powers and inform the Food Standards Agency.

It is essential that all Non Unitary Authorities liaise at county level to ensure that they co-ordinate their actions.