Iceland has been ordered to pull all of its frozen products ‘of animal origin’ by Ireland’s food safety authority, including items containing eggs and dairy.
According to a report from Sky News, the Irish arm of the frozen food retailer has been ordered to remove animal products that have been imported since 3 March this year.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) served a notice to Metron Stores Limited – which trades as Iceland in Ireland – to withdraw the items, which include meat and fish, eggs and dairy.
The enforcement action was taken following a series of breaches of food laws and an ongoing investigation.
The FSAI is also warning customers who have purchased the affected goods not to eat them and are requesting shoppers to return them instead.
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The retailer is now involved in discussions over “very serious breaches of food law”, said FSAI chief executive Dr Pamela Byrne.
“There have been no reports of illness associated with the implicated products from Iceland Ireland to date,” she said.
However, the measures have been implemented as a “precautionary approach to protect customers” after Iceland Ireland failed to provide “valid and correct traceability documentation as required by law”.
“We cannot be fully confident of the traceability and safety of these imported frozen foods of animal origin,” Dr Byrne added.
“It is the legal responsibility of any food business importing food into Ireland to make the correct import declarations for the food they are importing.
“All food businesses must have full traceability information on the food they are importing, producing, distributing and selling.”
The news comes as Iceland warns that new government regulations and post-Brexit border controls are hiking up costs for British retailers.
