Cyanide concern prompts snack food recall

Photo / Herald on Sunday

An Indian snack food has been recalled because it was found to have levels of a substance which can release harmful levels of cyanide when digested.

Mallik Farishta, owner of MZ Holdings which imported the snacks, said yesterday the recall of the Mayur brand tapioca slices (masala flavoured), and tapioca chips (round fried) was a precautionary measure and no one had reported falling ill after eating the chips.

"When it says cyanide, it doesn't mean the tapioca has got cyanide."

He said the tapioca contained substances that could release cyanide when digested, which could pose a risk to humans.

Mr Farishta said the company imported 480 packets of the chips in April and had managed to get 110 back. The rest had been sold.

"There were hardly any products in the market."

He said the chips were a delicacy in one region of India and the company had been able to quickly locate the stores where they had been on sale in Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch.

New Zealand Food Safety Authority assistant director Glen Neal said several foods including tapioca, which is also known as cassava, almonds and some stone fruits contained the substance hydrocyanic acid, which could release cyanide when digested.

"It's in a range of foods, naturally occurring there, and it tends to vary how much is present at one time."

He said certain natural conditions occurred as tapioca was growing which could lead to the presence of hydrocyanic acid.

He said New Zealand's maximum level of hydrocyanic acid was 10 milligrams per kilogram but the tapioca chips contained 30 milligrams per kilogram.

Poisoning from consuming the substance could cause heavy breathing, a fast heart rate, a dizzy feeling and nausea.

The authority was not aware of anyone becoming sick, but Mr Neal said it would be hard for people to make the connection to how they became unwell.

"It makes people think: 'Is that the beer that I'm drinking with those chips or is it the chips?"'

An investigation is under way to find out how the chips came to be sold here.

Anyone found to be knowingly selling unsafe food could face a fine of up to $100,000.

Mr Neal said the chips were tested after a routine inquiry because tapioca and cassava chips had been placed on a watchlist since 2008 when problems with hydrocyanic acid became known to be associated with them.

The authority was looking at ways to prevent the chips being sold in New Zealand which could see all tapioca and cassava products tested as they came into the country.

Suspect products

* Mayur brand tapioca slices (masala flavoured).

* Mayur brand tapioca chips (round fried).