Cod Liver Oil recalled in South

However, the company stated that the Cod Liver Capsules posed no immediate health risk. Health problems could develop if dioxins are absorbed in the body at high levels for a long period of time.

Dioxin is a highly toxic organic compound produced as a by-product during the manufacturing processes.

Checks at several pharmacies yesterday on High Street, San Fernando, revealed that officials from local agent Oscar Francois Ltd visited the pharmacies yesterday morning and removed batches of Seven Seas Capsules from the shelves. Pharmacist Daphne Bartlett of Bartlett Drugs yesterday said the officials took away two batches of the capsules.

The batches removed had lot numbers 351413 and 351328.

Health Minister John Rahael yesterday told Newsday, “The capsules posed no health risks, but the ministry was complying out of abundance.”

Oscar Francois Ltd said the products were “still absolutely safe for human consumption.” However, Seven Seas business unit director Roger Rawlins said the public has been panicked and returning some products because they believe all products are tainted. “We have received hundreds of calls.” The issue had been blown out of proportion by a media report and all 73 Seven Seas products have been targeted.

During a media briefing at its head office on Duke Street to deal with the negative public reaction, Rawlins said the removal of the products occurred because of routine tests on batches in the UK. The level of impurities was higher than normal. “Seven Seas in the UK felt the products did not meet their own quality standards.”

Rawlins said the UK Food Safety Standard Authority was notified and it never demanded the products be removed from the shelves. He said “late in the game” Seven Seas UK realised a few batches had been sent to TT and this initiated the local withdrawal of the products. Rawlins said about 7,000 items were imported into TT and 1,000 were on the market since February 15. He estimated that the company could lose millions of dollars.

Trying to put the issue in context, he said the level of dioxins in the Seven Seas Cod Liver Oil contained 2 picogrammes of dioxin per gramme but the capsules were half a gramme. “Less than 1.4 picogrammes which is less than breast milk, and less than the foods you eat.” He said just by breathing and eating food people are ingesting 70-280 picogrammes per day.

Rawlins said, Oscar Francois has been working with the Health Ministry since last Wednesday to remove the products from trade. Eight items were identified to be withdrawn in the UK but only two arrived in TT. “The majority of them are still with us in our warehouses at Oscar Francois.”

Rawlins said all the items should have been off the shelves at 4 pm yesterday.

“Even if the public has these products in their possession, they remain completely safe to take.”

He said the products fell within World Health Organization Standards and the Health Ministry agreed there was no risk to the public. “We have voluntarily said because there is concern we will accept it back.” Rawlins said Oscar Francois did not advise the public about the withdrawal before it happened because there was no danger to consumers and that highlighting the issue would have alarmed people.

The withdrawn items are Seven Seas High Strength Cod Liver Oil Capsules (120), lot number 351413, expiry date June 2007 and Seven Seas High Strength Cod Liver Oil Capsules (60) lot number 351328, expiry date June 2007, High Strength Cod Liver Oil Capsules (60) lot number 351176.

Also withdrawn were Pulse High Strength Triomega Pure Fish Oil Capsules (30) lot number 351667 expiry date July 2007 and Pulse High Strength Triomega Pure Fish Oil Capsules (30) lot number 351241 expiry date July 2007.