UAE recalls frozen vegetables and fruit linked to listeria outbreak

The products in question were produced by Greenyard Frozen Company, a Belgium-based fresh, frozen and prepared fruit and vegetables firm.

“The decision is based on the findings of an investigative report following the warning issued by the European Union countries regarding the listeria contaminated Greenyard Frozen vegetables and fruit products, which resulted in deaths, according to the European Commission and the World Health Organization. The Ministry has been closely following the updates of the outbreak,”​ said MOCCAE food safety director Majd Al Herbawi on the recall.

“The decision underscores the Ministry’s commitment to protecting food safety and safeguarding consumers from adulterated and misbranded foods, in coordination with relevant authorities in the UAE.​

“Based on the European notification to us containing a list of the company's products that have been exported to the UAE, a notification has been issued to the local food control authorities to investigate the products on the list and ensure that UAE markets are free of these contaminated products.”​

The nine items on the list mainly comprised mixed vegetables, “American mix”​, and sweet corn.

Reassurance of food safety​

Al Herbawi said that MOCCAE, along with the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority as well as municipal authorities in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, was closely following the updates of the outbreak.

It has published a list of nine frozen vegetables and fruit products and has urged UAE consumers not to consume any Greenyard Frozen product that is subject to the recall.

The Ministry encouraged consumers who have purchased these products to return them to the store or to get rid of them. Especially of concern are the elderly, pregnant women and those suffering from an immune deficiency.