Over 15,000 bottles of mineral water allegedly infected with bacteria have been withdrawn from the shops of Lidl, Aldi and One Euro retailers in Hungary.
Due to health concerns arising from high levels of the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the Hungarian food safety authority (Nébih) recalled the following brands from the shelves of the three retailers: Aquitas Zafír, Saguaro Mizse, Pannon-Aqua and Saguaro Pannon-Aqua.
Even though no health problems related to these mineral waters have been reported, two producers could face penalties, Nébih indicated. In a statement, one of the bottlers, Magyarvíz Kft, said that it had Italian and German laboratories re-examine the disputed samples, which did not show any signs of bacteria.
Lidl Hungary said that it will reimburse customers who bought the disputed products. In this particular case, they can return the bottles to any of the retailers' shops. No further proof of purchase will be necessary.
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria can cause a wide range of infections, some of which can be life-threatening, and is a major cause of illness in individuals whose immune systems are compromised, according to an article by the University of Texas at Houston's public-health school.
© 2014 European Supermarket Magazine – Europe’s grocery retail magazine, for all your breaking supermarket, convenience-store and FMCG news. Article written by László Juhász.
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