A Kirkcaldy firm is at the centre of a food safety row after authorities claimed its pesto could be deadly.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) issued an alert about a fresh wild garlic pesto produced by Trotter’s Independent Condiments.
The warning urged consumers not to eat the pesto, saying it could be unsafe and even cause a potentially fatal form of food poisoning.
FSS says it issued the alert, and a product recall, after Fife Council raised concerns.
Both organisations say pesto like this can contain a toxin that leads to botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning.
The company has hit back at the claims, insisting it has evidence to show its product is safe to eat.
Body claims Kirkcaldy firm’s wild garlic pesto could cause deadly food poisoning
The FSS warning said there was “an absence of procedures in place (at the company) to control the bacteria Clostridium botulinum”.
It added: “Satisfactory manufacturing controls that prevent the growth and toxin production by Clostridium botulinum could not be demonstrated.
“This means that the product could be unsafe.
“Clostridium botulinum may produce a toxin which can cause a serious form of food poisoning called botulism and can be fatal.”
It urged anyone who had bought 230g jars of the product, with all best-before dates, not to eat it.
Trotter’s has supplied a range of jams, chutneys and sauces to more than 300 retailers from its Mitchelston Industrial Estate production plant since 2009.
It makes between 3,000 and 4,000 jars of pesto in a single annual production run.
The product sold out within 24 hours of this year’s launch due to public demand.
Byam Trotter, the firm’s founder and owner, told The Courier he has independent laboratory evidence confirming the product is safe and meets all relevant food safety standards.
He said: “We have been making this product for nearly 15 years with no issues.
“The authorities are concerned because this is a raw product.
“We have every confidence that this year’s production is no exception and is indeed safe to consume.”
Company says safety warning about pesto is ‘disproportionate and damaging’
Mr Trotter said the pesto’s fresh nature, which he says includes wild garlic sourced and processed according to strict standards, has been “part of its appeal and identity”.
“Regular quality controls are in place,” he said.
“No customer complaints or adverse incidents have ever been recorded regarding this product.”
Mr Trotter also says documents and a lab certificate, showing the product is safe, have been passed to the council.
He added: “Despite this, and without presenting any evidence that the product is unsafe, the local authority has insisted on issuing a public recall and now seeks to conduct its own testing.
“It’s a move the company views as both disproportionate and damaging.
“We are disappointed by the approach taken by the local council and Food Standards Scotland, particularly the public release of the warning before a full investigation or dialogue with the company was conducted.
“The company is currently exploring its legal and regulatory options in response to what it believes is an unnecessary and harmful action.”
Last September, five people received emergency medical care for suspected botulism linked to eating a French firm’s wild garlic pesto.
Botulism can attack the nervous system and cause paralysis.
An FSS spokesperson told The Courier that Fife Council sent it an incident report about the matter on June 20.
They added: “How long the warning is in place depends on the eat-by dates on the product being recalled.
“With regards to any enforcement action, you would need to speak to the local authority.”
Fife Council claims Trotter’s pesto ‘could be unsafe’ and claims previous breaches
Lisa McCann, Fife Council’s service manager for environmental health, told The Courier: “A number of local authorities, including Fife, have taken action in relation to a significant food safety concern.
“Affected foodstuffs have been removed from sale with immediate effect and a recall instigated.
“We took this action because the food business was unable to demonstrate satisfactory manufacturing controls to prevent the growth and toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum in the Trotter’s fresh wild garlic pesto product.
“This means that the product could be unsafe and present a potential risk to public health.
“As per food law code of practice, Fife Council notified Food Standards Scotland, and consumer advice was issued.
“The business has breached previous enforcement action prohibiting distribution, and the council is continuing to investigate and considering further action.”
Trotter’s said it had nothing further to add to its statement when asked to comment on the council’s claims about previous breaches.
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