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Listen to this siteFriday 21 June 2002
Category D: For Information Only
Heads of Environmental Health Services and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware of a product withdrawal of two batches of fish oil supplements.
This follows the results of a survey of dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs in 33 samples of branded fish oil supplements bought from UK retailers.
Most of the levels found were low, although two batches of cod liver oil contained higher levels, which if the oils were consumed at the recommended dosage, would result in a daily intake of more than twice the recommended tolerable daily intake set by the independent Committee on Toxicity. The products being withdrawn are as below.
Product Name: Superdrug Pure Cod Liver Oil
Packaging: 300ml bottle
Batch number: 300909
Expiry Date: April 2003
Product Name: Holland & Barrett Pure Cod Liver Oil
Packaging: 250ml bottle
Batch number: L0229
Expiry Date: August 2002
Additional Information: Dioxins and PCBs are potentially cancer causing chemicals produced by industrial activity, which are present in the environment and in food. They have no immediate effect on health, even at the highest levels found in food, but potential risks to health come from long term exposure to high levels.
The FSA has issued a press release to publicise the issue for consumers.
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(pdf 13KB) Survey of Dioxins and Dioxin-like PCBs in Fish Oil Supplements (Number 26/02) Food Survey Information Sheet Survey reveals reduction in dioxin levels in fish oil supplements Read the full press release (External) Get Adobe Acrobat reader You may need the free Acrobat Reader to view a pdfFind out what our other sites have to offer