Possible health hazard Lemon juice concentrate will be recalled

Recall: Elevated sulfite content found in lemon juice concentrate

Gunz Warenhandels GmbH from Austria recalls Citrilemon Lemon Juice Concentrate. In one batch of the product, which was distributed throughout Germany, an increased sulfite content has been found. The consumption of sulphite-containing foods may cause severe intolerance reactions in some people.

Elevated sulfite content not declared on the label

Gunz Warenhandels GmbH from Austria has initiated a recall for the product Citrilemon Lemon Juice Concentrate 200ml (EAN: 9002859018800) of the brand Piacelli with the best before date 14.07.2020. "The product mentioned above has been found to have an elevated sulphite content which has not been declared on the label," the company wrote in a release published on the portal "Lebensmittelwarnung.de" of the federal states and the Federal Office of Consumer Protection.

The Gunz Warenhandels GmbH has started a recall for a batch of Citrilemon lemon juice concentrate. In the product, an increased sulfite content was found. (Image: Eisenhans / fotolia.com)

When returning the purchase price will be refunded

The recall for the lemon juice concentrate applies to the entire federal territory.

As the company informs, "all necessary measures have already been taken to avoid such an event in the future."

Buyers are requested to return the affected product to the point of sale. The purchase price will be refunded.

Health problems

Sulphites are the salts and esters of sulfurous acid H2SO3. They are approved as additives for numerous foods and are used as preservatives and as antioxidants.

As the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) writes on its website, sulfite salts in food are well tolerated by most people, as an endogenous enzyme (sulfite oxidase) allows rapid oxidation to harmless sulfate.

However, in some people, the consumption of sulphite-containing foods can lead to serious intolerance reactions such as asthmatic reactions.

"Affected by this intolerance are in particular a part of asthma patients," reports the LGL.

"In addition, it can come to people with a deficit of the enzyme sulfite oxidase to health complaints," said the experts.

The symptoms of intolerance reactions to sulfite salts are in part similar to those of allergic reactions. (Ad)