The Food Safety of Authority (FSAI) has issued an urgent product recall of a batch of Italiamo Pesto alla Genovese due to the presence of the unauthorised pesticide ethylene oxide.
In a statement released, the FSAI said that the unauthorised pesticide ethylene oxide was discovered in the batch of food additive locust bean gum (E410) during the production stages.
They said that there's no immediate risk to health.
"Although the consumption of the contaminated product does not pose an acute risk to health, there is an increased risk if there is continued consumption of ethylene oxide in contaminated food over a long period of time. Therefore, exposure to ethylene oxide needs to be minimised. Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores supplied with the implicated batch," the statement read.
Locust bean gum (E410) is an approved food additive in the EU and is used as a thickener and stabiliser in a broad range of food products.
However, ethylene oxide is a pesticide that is not allowed for use in foods sold in the EU but is approved for use by other countries outside the EU.
In terms of the affected product, consumers are being asked to return the Italiamo Pesto alla Genovese, pack size: 190g
The batch code is MUB785 and it has a best before date 03/2024.
