This is a success for our entire society, because when this problem occurred, as one man, the media, experts, journalists, the government, everyone reacted to the appearance of this product – said Przemysław Rzodkiewicz, chief inspector of the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection, at a press conference. – At this moment, at 12.30, we have carried out inspections in 223 retail outlets and these inspections confirm that this product is not available or has been withdrawn from circulation – he said.
Due to information about the appearance of alcohol sachets (alcotubes) resembling tubes of fruit puree for children in the trade, the Chief Inspector of Commercial Quality of Agricultural and Food Products obliged the Inspection authorities to inspect the sale of this range of food products – it was previously reported on the IJHARS website.
“It raises a lot of justified emotions”
During the press conference, Przemysław Rzodkiewicz drew attention to the packaging in which the alcohol was sold. – I am the father of three children, and if my son or daughter had such a package in their backpack, took it out, or if I saw it in a driver's car or an employee's car, it would not arouse my suspicions – he said.
– Such packaging is easy to hide, easy to eat, easy to hide and therefore evokes so many justified emotions. This is the success of our entire society, because when this problem occurred, as one man, the media, experts, journalists, the government, everyone reacted to the appearance of this product. Also today, this product is basically not on the market, he said.
– We started activities related to these inspections on Monday, when the first media reports about the existence of such products appeared – he said. – At this moment, as of 12.30, we have carried out inspections in 223 retail outlets and these inspections confirm that this product is not available or has been withdrawn from circulation – he said.
Alcohol sold in tubes
On Tuesday evening, OLV, the producer of the so-called sachets of alcoholic beverages under the Voodoo Monkey brand informed PAP that it is withdrawing the entire batch of products from the market and immediately stopping their production. “We regret that the Voodoo Monkey product, even though it was produced and marked in accordance with applicable regulations, aroused negative and unintended associations. Therefore, the management board of OLV decided to immediately withdraw the entire batch of products from the market and immediately stop production. We apologize for this situation,” the company wrote in a statement sent to PAP.
On Tuesday, Topaz, which has 70 retail outlets operating under its own brand and 60 franchise stores operating as Topaz Express, announced the immediate withdrawal of Voodoo Monkey products from sale in its stores. The POLOmarket chain also withdrew from sales. “We have withdrawn the mentioned products from sale with immediate effect,” the company said on Wednesday.
The media recently reported on the sale of alcoholic beverages in soft packaging resembling fruit mousses under the Voodoo Monkey brand.
After the case was publicized, the Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the search for a method that will “block the practice of alcohol sachets.” Chief Sanitary Inspector Paweł Grzesiowski announced that inspectors will inspect plants producing alcohol sachets and stores selling them, justifying this, among others: risk of confusion with children's products due to similar packaging.
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