About 20 million canned vegetables of KOO and Hugo's, which were produced from May 1, 2019 to May 5, 2021 were being recalled due to a small number of defective cans supplied by a packaging supplier, Tiger Brands said this week.

The company identified the issue as part of its internal quality assurance processes. It said the cans might have a defective side seam weld that could cause the can to leak.

“The issue was first identified as part of routine quality control procedures. Investigations identified a deficiency in the side seam weld of cans manufactured by a third-party supplier. No health issues have been reported to date relating to the affected product range,” it said in an official statement.

Tiger Brands recalls SOME KOO and Hugo’s defective cans due to a side weld seam issue that may cause the cans to leak. To see the list of products that are affected visit https://t.co/ZEpFq0NnRw or call us on 086 010 0891 for more information. pic.twitter.com/nWnN0TMgPA
— Tiger Brands (@TigerBrands) July 26, 2021

“Despite the low probability of illness and injury, matters of quality and food safety are an absolute priority for Tiger Brands. Therefore, the company in consultation with the National Consumer Council (NCC) made the decision to initiate a precautionary withdrawal in the best interest of consumers.”

The company said it was working with its retail and wholesale customers to remove all affected canned vegetable products from store shelves and replace them with fresh stock produced from quality assured cans.

Tiger Brands encouraged consumers to check their food shelves at home and to return any canned products forming part of the recall to their nearest supermarket or wholesale outlet for a refund.

“KOO canned products forming part of the recall produced from 1 May 2019 to 5 May 2021 can be identified by looking at the manufacturing date code stamped on the bottom or the top of the can. The manufacturing date appears in the first line following the letters MAN,” Tiger Brands said.

It said it was good practice for consumers to inspect the quality of a can before buying it, and to never purchase or use cans that were dented, cracked, leaking or had bulging lids.

Use these steps to identify the affected product:

1: Check if manufactured from 1 MAY 2019 TO 5 MAY 2021.

2: Return affected product to store and get a refund.

3: To see the list of products that are affected, visit https://t.co/ZEpFq0vMZY or call us on 086 010 0891.
— Tiger Brands (@TigerBrands) July 26, 2021

Canned products forming part of the recall:

KOO Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce – 410g
KOO Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce-Lite – 410g
Hugo’s Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce – 410g
KOO Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce 4 pack – 4 x 410g
KOO Butter Beans in Brine – 410g
KOO Butter Beans in Tangy Curry Sauce – 410g
KOO Butter Beans in Tomato Sauce – 420g
KOO Baked Beans in Chilli Sauce – 420g
KOO Baked Beans in Tomato & Herb – 410g
KOO Baked Beans in Curry Sauce – 410g
KOO Baked Beans in Hot Chakalaka – 410g
KOO Baked Beans in BBQ Flavoured Sauce – 410g
KOO Baked Beans in Chilli Wors Flavoured Sauce – 410g
KOO Creamstyle Sweetcorn – 415g
KOO Whole Kernel in Brine – 410g
KOO Mixed Vegetables in Sweet and Spicy Curry Sauce – 420g
KOO Mixed Vegetables in Hot Curry Sauce – 420g
KOO Mixed Vegetables in Durban Curry Sauce – 420g
KOO Mixed Vegetables in Brine – 410g
Helderberg Fresh Garden Peas in Sweetened Brine – 400g
KOO Fresh Garden Peas in Brine – 400g
KOO Surfmaid Peas Petit Pois in Sweetened Brine – 400g
KOO Short Spaghetti in Flavoured Tomato Sauce – 410g

Lutho Pasiya

Consumer alert: 20 million canned vegetables of KOO and Hugo’s recalled due to defective cans