Food firm cleaning up act after nightshade scare, says watchdog

Food company Talley's is tightening its processes after nightshade berries were discovered among packets of frozen vegetables, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority says.

The South Island company received complaints from consumers who found the currant-like black berries in their food.

The variety differs from deadly nightshade (atropa belladonna) which is highly toxic, but rare in New Zealand.

Scott Barnard, of Christchurch, contacted the authority after finding the berries in a packet of frozen beans he was about to serve his 19-month-old son several weeks ago.

Authority director of compliance and investigation Geoff Allen said black nightshade growing among pea crops was a common problem and Talley's crops were particularly hard hit in the 2007/2008 harvest.

"In most years it's relatively low-level and they're able to identify and remove most of the contamination," Mr Allen said.

The tail end of affected product grown that season was withdrawn this year but some still ended up in people's freezers.

Mr Allen said Talley's had put in place additional safety processes to reduce the amount of contamination hitting the factory as well as systems to better detect contamination.

"It's early days yet but what I can confirm is that they are very much aware of it and are putting their minds to it at all levels to do that."

Mr Allen said black nightshade plant was low-level toxic and the berries had "little or no toxicity".

Any consumers who come across the berries in frozen food packets should remove them or return the packet to the supplier. Health concerns should be referred to a doctor.

- NZPA