Brand Protection is Key

See below real cases, and decide whether your company can afford the negative and brand tarnishing effects of food contamination, which could have easily been avoided by the use of
food-approved lubricants such as Shell’s specially formulated synthetic range.

OIL IN BABY FOOD LEADS TO TRIAL

AN ENVIRONMENTAL health investigation has revealed a tin of baby food bought from Stoke-on-Trent was contaminated with toxic oil. ****** claimed the cheesy parsnip and potato bake smelt like tar and alerted an environmental health officer, who whisked the tin off for analysis. A city council spokesman today confirmed the tests had revealed a toxic substance. He said: ‘Our investigations indicated this baby food was contaminated with mineral oil Lubricant, possibly form a machine in the manufacturing process or from the can manufacturing process. We are still investigating how the oil actually got there.’

Source: Sentinel, September 1, 2000

Lubricant contamination is a constant threat in the food processing industry; even trace quantities of oil can result in damaged batches or products, and force a company to undertake a reputation and brand damaging product recall.

BABY FOODS RECALLED AFTER COMPLAINTS

Danish firm ******* has recalled ****** Infant formula and *********** Milk Powder from Thailand after consumers complained of industrial oil and metal in the products.

The use of Shell Cassida food grade lubricants – which are non-toxic, odourless, colourless and tasteless satisfies food legislation requirements (see Safety) and meets equipment and application criteria (see safety and approvals)...

COMPRESSED AIR CAUSES RECALL

Macaroni and Cheese: In 2001 1,421,182 cases of ******* microwavable servings of macaroni and cheese manufactured by ******, were recalled by ******. The product was contaminated with a compressed air lubricant.

Source:www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/2001/ENf00687.html

…and can mean the difference between successful products on the shelves, or product recalls, legal action and the negative consequences these have on a company's reputation and brand equity.

SLICED TURKEY MEAT RECALL

Sliced Turkey Meat: on June 16, 2000 ************ a Kansas City, Missouri, USA firm, recalled approximately 86,000 pounds of sliced turkey inadvertently exposed to a non food grade lubricant during processing. The problem was discovered by the company through analysis of their consumer complaints and a follow up investigation. Consumers complained of off colour, off odour turkey and some consumers reported of temporary intestinal discomfort.

Source: www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/recalls/rurfiles/rnr038-2000.btm

Not forgetting losses caused by production downtime.

BOTTLED SOFT DRINK RECALL

Bottles Soft Drink: on November 8 2002, a consignment of soft drinks was recalled owing to non food grade lubricant contamination. The product was ‘*******’ (five flavours) in 1.25 litre bottles, bought through ****** ****** in Victoria, Australia. Food Standards Australia indicated that the lubricant ‘may cause irritation if consumed’.

Source: http;/www.foodstandards.gov.au/recalls.kofiles.ko026.bym

Don’t be one of our case studies, ring Lincol now and see how we can keep your products safe and manufacturing moving.