The detected amount of aluminium made 442mg/kg, while the highest permissible level is 10 mg/kg. The product was sold under name “TOTACO MIEN DONG Zong‘s vermicelli Zvláštní nůdle” (including the spelling mistake in the name) in packaging à 500g, best before date (BBD) 31.12.2012.

The Food Inspection Authority ordered to withdraw the product from circulation immediately. According to the investigation, the importer already distributed all packages to retail network including fast food shops.

With regard to the best before date, it cannot be excluded that consumers still may have this product at home. All customers have opportunity to return “Zvláštní nůdle” to the sellers and the importer as well, which is company VIVACOMEX, spol. s r.o. based in Cheb.

The information on the contaminated product was entered into the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASSF) which connects the Member States of the European Union with the European Commission, and the European Food Safety Authority. It is also the highest value of occurrence of aluminium in a food product which has been recorded by the RASFF so far.