Baby food recall after sharp pieces of metal found in jar
Sabotage fears over thousands of meals by Heinz
‘Thanks to customer for raising alarm’
HEINZ and Tesco are recalling thousands of jars of baby food over fears that they have been deliberately spiked with sharp metal fragments.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced the move yesterday after a worried mother reported the discovery – amid fears of a wider threat.
The watchdog warned: ‘ Two sharp metal fragments were found in the jar. The possible presence of sharp metal fragments makes this product unsafe to eat and presents a safety risk.’
To date, just one jar had been contaminated, but the recall relates to thousands of 200g jars of best- selling baby food products under the ‘7+ months Heinz by Nature’ brand. These include Cheesy Tomato Pasta Stars, Cottage Pie, Mango Chicken Curry, and Sweet and Sour Chicken.
Also being recalled are the brand’s Spaghetti Bolognese, Sunday Chicken Dinner, Pasta Bake with Tuna, and Winter Veggies and Lamb. The police and other law enforcement agencies have been called in to investigate the apparent sabotage attempt. Supermarkets and manufacturers have been targeted in the past by blackmailers tampering with popular foods and demanding cash. It is not known whether there have been any such demands in this case.
The mystery is being investigated by Hertfordshire Police, where a spokesman said: ‘The recalling of products in relation to the discovery of a tampered jar of Heinz baby food is an indication of how seriously incidents of this nature are treated by the food industry and law enforcement partners.’
They added: ‘We are not prepared to disclose the location of the store where the tampered jar was purchased for public safety reasons. Full support is being given to that customer who we thank for raising the alarm.’
Warning notices will be put up on the baby food shelves in Tesco stores across the country.
The two companies issued a joint statement, saying: ‘Heinz and Tesco are voluntarily recalling all 7+ months Heinz By Nature baby food varieties in jars following the discovery earlier this week of a single jar of baby food which had been tampered with. Inside the jar two sharp pieces of metal fragments were discovered. No injuries were sustained, and the matter is being investigated by the relevant law enforcement agencies.
‘Safety is our number one priority. Products in the range were removed from sale immediately and we are taking this voluntary recall action as a precaution. Consumers are advised not to use Heinz 7+ months baby food jars purchased in Tesco and return any jars to Tesco stores where they were purchased for a full refund.’ The recall involves only these products sold in Tesco stores.
In 2008 a former tax inspector was jailed for six years for a £1million blackmail plot against Tesco.
Philip McHugh, of Clitheroe, Lancashire, sent 76 letters threatening to bomb Tesco stores and contaminate products if it refused to comply with his demand for money.