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The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority has repeatedly found a high level of pesticides in baby purées from the company Linea Nivnice. The following three products are concerned:

• HELLO Fruit Purée with Strawberries, production date: 28 February 2007, best before date: 28 August 2008 (jar 190g)
• TESCO Fruit Purée with Strawberries, production date: 28 February 2007, best before date: 28 August 2008 (jar 190g)
• TESCO Fruit Purée with Strawberries, production date: 27 March 2007, best before date: 27 September 2008 (jar 190g)

Purées were manufactured from strawberry pulp from the Spanish company Conservas Mira S.A., which contained pesticide residues, but in the level authorized by legal regulations. However, more strict standards apply to the manufacture of baby purées and maximum limits for certain pesticides are many times lower than for strawberry pulp. Pesticides in these purées were above the prescribed limit and they were therefore assessed as non-compliant. The Inspection Authority banned their sale and the producer had to withdraw and dispose of purées already present on the market. However, a majority of them have already been sold.

Taking into account that these products have a long storage life, it is possible that consumers still have them at home. In such case they can claim the product directly at the producer. Health risk is imminent only in the event of long-term consumption of a larger quantity of these purées per day.

Linea Nivnice informed consumers of unsafe baby purées on its website in accordance with applicable European regulations. In its announcement, which is enclosed, the company also describes further steps taken in addition to measures imposed by the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority.

Press release by: Martina Šmídtová, CAFIA spokesperson

Linea Nivnice Announcement:

LINEA NIVNICE announces the withdrawal of the following products from the market:

• HELLO Fruit Purée with Strawberries, 190g, production date: 28/2/2007
• TESCO Fruit Purée with Strawberries, 190g, production date: 28/2/2007
• TESCO Fruit Purée with Strawberries, 190g, production date: 27/3/2007

due to a high level of pesticides present in imported strawberry pulp. Products with these dates will be immediately exchanged. Please refer to us by electronic mail.

Thank you for your understanding.

Linea Nivnice withdrew from the market, in the 45th and 46th week through its sales representatives, the above fruit purées. In collaboration with the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority and based on the results of analyses carried out by an accredited laboratory, Linea Nivnice also examined the quality of strawberry fruit purées manufactured in April – October 2007 with the following result:

No deviations from applicable quality standards have been found.

Linea Nivnice takes maximum care of and pays maximum attention to fruit purées. The objective is to manufacture high-quality and safe food.

In Nivnice, 26 November 2007