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Vitamin supplements maker Red Seal Natural Health has recalled around 2,000 bottles of its spirulina product after routine checks showed they could be contaminated with salmonella.
Red Seal took the 100 gram bottles of Spirulina Power off stockists' shelves over the weekend ahead of test results due this week, Red Seal director Al Gaerlan told nzherald.co.nz today.
Mr Gaerlan described the nationwide recall of the batches due between March and October 2009 as a precautionary measure.
"We were alarmed that some of the batches could possibly have salmonella," Mr Gaerlan said.
"If there's a possibility [of product contamination], we pull it."
The suspected salmonella strain is likely to have come from an ingredient imported from Europe, he said.
Auckland-based Mr Gaerlan said the recall wasn't expected to dent the company's pockets too much as it was a very small part of Red Seal's total product offering.
RECALLED PRODUCTS:
Batch 11392, expiry March 2009
Batch 11514, expiry May 2009
Batch 11687, expiry July 2009
Batch 11861, expiry October 2009
Source: New Zealand Food Safety Authority
