Product recall Published Updated once · 19 June 2020 FSA-PRIN-29-2020

Primula updates recall of all Primula Cheese tubes because of Clostridium botulinum

This recall applies to everyone who bought the product

The FSA has said the product may be unsafe to eat. Check the details below against your pack.

Check your pack

Primula Plain Original Cheese Spread

Pack size: 150g
Best before
From 25 December 2020 up to and including 28 January 2021

Primula Cheese Spread with Smoked Paprika

Pack size: 150g
Best before
From 25 December 2020 up to and including 28 January 2021

Primula Cheese Spread with Jalapenos

Pack size: 150g
Best before
From 25 December 2020 up to and including 28 January 2021

Primula Light Cheese Spread

Pack size: 150g
Best before
From 25 December 2020 up to and including 28 January 2021

Primula Cheese Spread with Ham

Pack size: 150g
Best before
From 25 December 2020 up to and including 28 January 2021

Primula Cheese Spread with Chives

Pack size: 150g
Best before
From 25 December 2020 up to and including 28 January 2021

Primula Cheese Spread with Prawns

Pack size: 150g
Best before
From 25 December 2020 up to and including 28 January 2021

Primula Original Cheese Spread (ambient)

Pack size: 100g
Best before
From 30 October 2020 up to and including 10 December 2020

Primula Cheese Spread with Ham (ambient)

Pack size: 100g
Best before
From 30 October 2020 up to and including 10 December 2020

Primula Cheese spread with Chives (ambient)

Pack size: 100g
Best before
From 30 October 2020 up to and including 10 December 2020

The latest affected best-before date was 28 January 2021, which has passed. Recalled products can still be in cupboards and freezers, so check any you have at home.

What to do

Advice from the FSA notice:

  1. If you have bought any of the above products, do not eat them. Instead contact Primula on 0800 716 551 or [email protected] to arrange a refund. If customers are making an essential trip to the store from where it was bought, they can return the item in-store for a full refund.
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Why it was recalled

The FSA's risk statement:

Manufacturing controls that could potentially affect the safety of the products listed above could not be demonstrated satisfactorily by the company.

The issue relates to controlling factors to prevent the growth and toxin production of Clostridium botulinum. Botulinum toxin may cause a serious form of food poisoning called botulism and can be fatal.

A recall from customers is being carried out as a precautionary measure.

Details from the notice

Primula Ltd is recalling all Primula Cheese tubes, (chilled and ambient) because the products might be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum due to a production fault. They have taken the precautionary step of recalling all products because one product might contain Clostridium botulinum.

This is an update on the previous Product Recall Information Notice issued on 16 June 2020 which related to all ‘Best before’ dates of the affected Primula products.

Specific ‘Best before’ dates for the products listed below have been updated.

A Product Recall Information Notice tells the public about food that is unsafe and is being removed from sale.

What the business is doing

Primula Ltd is recalling the above products. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. Please see the attached notice.

Updates to this recall

  1. · FSA-PRIN-29-2020
    Original alert: Primula recalls all Primula Cheese tubes because of Clostridium botulinum
  2. Update 1: Primula updates recall of all Primula Cheese tubes because of Clostridium botulinum
    • Added 3 products: Primula Cheese Spread with Jalapenos; Primula Cheese Spread with Chives; Primula Cheese Spread with Prawns
    • Removed 3 products: Primula Cheese Spread with Jalapeno; Primula Cheese Spread with Chive; Primula Cheese Spread with Prawn
    • New batch or date details: best before From 25 December 2020 up to and including 28 January 2021; best before From 30 October 2020 up to and including 10 December 2020

How this recall compares

  • This is the 1st recall or allergy alert naming Primula since 2018 (2 in total).
  • Botulism risk has caused 5 UK food recalls since 2018, most often in sauces, spreads and condiments. All botulism risk recalls

Counts from FSA and FSS alerts since January 2018.