15th October 2021
The Food and Drug Authority, Ghana has initiated a recall of certain batches of Ceres 100% Apple Juice. The action according to the Food and Drug regulatory body was occasioned by findings made by the International Food Safety Network and its partners to the effect that, the said batches of ceres contained unacceptable levels of mycotoxin-putalin.
According to the World Health Organisation, Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by some fungi. In this instance, mycotoxin-putalin is produced by Aspergillus, Penicillium and Byssochlamys which can be found in apples and apple products. Once apples are affected, drinks made from them become contaminated with toxins which when consumed can cause nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances and vomiting. “Patulin is considered to be genotoxic however a carcinogenic potential has not been demonstrated yet”. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mycotoxins. The maximum acceptable level for patulin in apple juice is 50 µg/L. It is not clear the level of Putalin found in the drinks. Click on https://medhealth.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Press-Release-2.pdf for the batch numbers.
The general public is encouraged to report any of the above-stated batches of ceres to the FDA.
Information for healthy living; member of Medical Journalists Association-Ghana & World Federation of Science Journalists.
