An Update from the Chair and MD
Update Regarding Products from Eswatini Kitchen
As you are aware, it came to our attention on 27th November that there is a quality issue with the Peach and Ginger Jam that we source from Eswatini Kitchen, with some jars developing a surface mould, As you know, we have been investigating the issue and the root cause and we asked you to stop selling/consuming all products from the Eswatini range whilst this investigation was ongoing.
We know the wait for results has been frustrating and we apologise for the inconvenience this has caused. The delay has been because the lab needed time to culture the mould and to see if other products developed anything similar.
Unfortunately, we are now confirming that we are widening the scope of the product recall to include all the other jam and marmalade products in the Eswatini range (listed below). Whilst the incidence of mould in these other products is much lower, there are some jars that are developing mould, and the investigation is finding some issues with the vacuum seals on these products. We have now informed Food Standards Scotland (FSS) of the need to recall these additional products (only where they have black lids):
- Lime Marmalade
- Orange Marmalade
- Orange & Cinnamon Marmalade
- Ruby Grapefruit Marmalade
In line with the FSS recall, customers need to contact the place they bought the stock. For customers who have ordered these products direct from True Origin:
- We will be in touch in the next week to confirm credit note/refund process for affected stock that you have ordered
- Please destroy any remaining stock you have
- If you sell stock on, please display the recall notice you will be emailed for your customers to see.
Customers who purchased any of these products from elsewhere, need to contact the retailer that sold them the product.
No mould has been found in any of the savoury products either by us or by the independent lab (or by Eswatini Kitchen’s analysis). However, given these products are from the same production run and there has also been incidence of poor vacuum seal on these lines, with guidance from Food Standards Scotland, as a precautionary measure we are withdrawing these products from sale (again only where they have black lids):
- Medium Curry Sauce
- Swazi Fire
- Lime Pickle
- Mango Pickle
- Vegetable Pickle
- Hot Mango Chutney
- Mixed Fruit Chutney
- Pineapple Chutney
For customers who have ordered these products direct from True Origin:
- We will be in touch in the next week to confirm credit note/refund process for affected stock that you have ordered and still have in stock
- Please destroy any remaining stock you have
As we said previously, this issue is isolated to the Eswatini Kitchen product range. The rest of our range is not affected as we source these products from other suppliers. If you can, we ask that you keep buying from across our wider range True Origin | Food that has True Impact at Origin – True Origin Retail .
Thank you again for your patience and understanding. We understand this has been very difficult for everyone.
This has been an incredibly challenging time for the full True Origin team. If you would like to discuss ways to support us as we continue to work through the implications for our business, please get in touch: tracy@trueorigin.org.uk or mary@trueorigin.org.uk
Tracy Mitchell and Mary Popple
