Fishery products produced in unapproved premises ('The Smoke House')

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Food Alert: for Action

Ref: 03/2010/Northern Ireland

For Information (Outside Northern Ireland)

The public will wish to be aware that smoked fishery products have been identified that have been produced on premises unknown to the originating district council. The products include an unwrapped cold smoked mackerel and a wrapped hot smoked mackerel. The hot smoked mackerel is labelled 'The Smoke House.' Some of the products identified also bear the approval number of a legitimate approved premise, UK 9502 EC.

Despite enquiries by investigating officers in the originating district council, it has not been possible to obtain full distribution details or product traceability records for these products. However, distribution is believed to be throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, predominantly to Eastern European style premises.

Identification of the Product:

To date, two products have been identified: one being an unwrapped cold smoked mackerel and the other being a wrapped hot smoked mackerel.

The wrapped hot smoked mackerel is contained within a gold foil vacuum pack. It has a white label attached with the wording 'The Smoke House Hot Smoked Mackeral.' (Note the misspelling). There is also a flag emblem in white, blue and red and an EU Approval number (UK 9502 EC).
Please note that the flag emblem and the Approval number may not always be present on the individual packs but rather on the outer boxes if available. The 'use by' date is indicated, the weight in kg, the price in Euro/kg and the price in Euro. Whilst a 'use by' date of 02/03/10 is given on the packaging in the photograph please be advised that different date codes may be applied and that all date codes are implicated.

To assist Food Safety Officers in correct identification of these products, photographs can be viewed via the link below.

Actions to be taken by District Councils:

As these fishery products were manufactured in unapproved premises they do not comply with the requirements of Regulation EC 853/2004 and the Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.

District councils are requested to visit specialist Eastern European retail premises in their area to ensure that these products are withdrawn from sale and destroyed, if necessary using powers under the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 and regulation 25 of the Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.

In the event of a district council finding quantities of this product or other products labelled 'The Smoke House', they are requested to inform FSANI immediately and provide details of the consignment.

Please send any relevant information to: incidents.ni@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk .

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Fishery products produced in unapproved premises ('The Smoke House')

Identification of the Product:

Actions to be taken by District Councils:

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