Popcorn recall - Harmful levels of tropane alkaloids detected

Health impairments threaten: Manufacturer recalls popcorn

The XOX pastry GmbH from Hameln in Lower Saxony has started a comprehensive recall of various popcorn varieties. An increased amount of tropane alkaloids has been found in the products. These natural plant ingredients are toxic to humans and can lead to adverse health effects.

Increased amount of tropane alkaloids found in popcorn

The XOX pastry GmbH from Hameln (Lower Saxony) has started a comprehensive recall for various popcorn items. As the company reported on its website, "an increased amount of tropane alkaloids was detected in the affected products". These natural plant ingredients are toxic to humans and can lead to adverse health effects.

XOX Gebäck GmbH has launched an extensive recall for various popcorn items because it found an increased amount of tropane alkaloids. These plant substances can lead to health problems in humans. (Photo: fotofabrika / fotolia.com)

Recall of seven articles

Affected by the recall are the following articles with the corresponding best before dates (this information is on the back of the packaging):

XOX Popcorn Toffee Strawberry 125g, (EAN: 4031446425153), exp: 27.01.2019 and 28.01.2019.

XOX Party Popcorn sweet-salty WM 275g, (EAN: 4031446425139), best price: 23.12.2018.

XOX Party XXL popcorn caramel 500g, (EAN: 4031446425016), best before: 19.12.2018 expiration date: 20.12.2018, expiry date: 14.01.2019, expiry date: 15.01.2019, expiry date: 16.01.2019.

Eddy's Popcorn sweet 200g, (EAN: 4260445241086), best before: 31.12.2018, expiry date: 01.01.2019.

White Bites Popcorn sweet 120g, (EAN: 4031446770055), best before: 27.12.2018, best before: 28.12.2018, best market: 09.01.2019, best before: 10.01.2019, best market: 11.01.2019.

Mike Mitchell Popcorn sweet 200g, (EAN: 24212588), best before: 11.12.2018, best before: 18.12.2018, best before: 19.12.2018, best before: 14.01.2019, best before: 15.01.2019, best before: 16.01.2019.

Rewe Best Choice Popcorn sweet 150g, (EAN: 4388844236516), best before: 16.12.2018, best before: 17.12.2018, best before: 18.12.2018, expiry date: 07.01.2019, expiry date: 08.01.2019, expiry date: 09.01.2019, expiry date : 30.01.2019.

Consumption of the affected products is not recommended

As the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety reports on its portal "Lebensmittelwarnung.de", the seven recalled products were sold nationwide - except in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

According to the manufacturer, customers who have purchased the corresponding products can return them for a refund of the purchase price without presentation of the receipt in their shops.

Consumption of the affected articles is not recommended. This "could lead to health impairments such as blurred vision, dilated pupils, dry mouth or tiredness," writes XOX Gebäck GmbH.

Toxic to humans

"Tropanalkaloids are natural plant ingredients that occur in a variety of plants, especially in nightshade plants such. Henbane, datura and belladonna ", explains the Austrian agency for health and food security (Ages) on its website.

"Plants form tropane alkaloids to protect against predators (eg insects). Tropane alkaloids are also toxic to humans, "say the experts, who point out that in recent years poisoning cases, among others, from Slovenia and Austria were known.

Symptoms such as dry mouth, hot red skin, blurred vision, tachycardia (tachycardia), speech disorders, dizziness, disorientation and hallucinations were thus observed in those affected.

According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) (as of 2013), there are no known cases of adverse health effects for infants, toddlers and consumers of other age groups due to the consumption of products contaminated with tropane alkaloids. (Ad)