Bottles of Pure Tassie Organic juice recalled over toxic fungi patulin discovery

A whole batch of Tasmanian juice has been recalled from across the country due to “elevated” levels of toxins. Check to see if yours was affected – and what to do if it was.

A WHOLE batch of a Tasmanian-made juice has been recalled from across Australia.

On April 24 Juicy Isle voluntarily recalled an isolated batch of Pure Tassie Organic juice from stores across the country.

A test had indicated elevated levels of patulin, a mycotoxin, or toxic mould, common in apple juice and related products.

There is no formal Food Safety Standard testing to detect patulin levels in Australia, however, there is an international practice.

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1.5L bottles of Pure Tassie apple and blackcurrant juice recalled

Juice with elevated levels of patulin can pose a health risk through repeated consumption.

To ensure its customer safety Juicy Isle expanded its voluntary recall to cover all varieties of its Pure Tassie Organic juice with best before dates prior to January 31, 2021, as a precautionary measure.

“We will vastly expand our investigation and testing regimen to provide certainty to our customers that Pure Tassie juice does not have elevated levels of patulin,” said Juicy Isle CEO Paul Mealor.

“This news has hit us hard. We see our customers as family, and we will ensure they can drink our organic juice safely and confidently.”

Pure Tassie Apple and Blackcurrant Juice. Picture: Food Standard Australia and New Zealand

Mr Mealor encouraged customers who have any bottles of the juice with a best before date earlier than January 31, 2021 to return the product to its place of purchase for a full refund.

“The world is going through many ‘never look back’ moments, and this is another one for us,” he said.

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“At Juicy Isle, we are taking a strong stance and a leading position in the Australian market in food safety for the welfare of our loyal customers. We have already adopted new and rigorous testing of all apple juice production beyond current Australian industry standards. Our Pure Tassie Organic juice will be the purest and safest Australian apple juice on the market, and will ensure both Tasmania and Juicy Isle will become national and global leaders in premium organic apple juice.”

At a hard time for every industry in Tasmania, and Australia, Mealor expressed sincere regret. “All of us at Juicy Isle, and our colleagues across the industry, see this as a catalyst – an opportunity to work harder, to be inventive, and to return to the market with the safest, freshest, most delicious juice you can buy,” he said.

Anyone concerned about their health should seek medical advice. Consumers can also contact Juicy Isle via email [e-mail].