Aflatoxin case study

In May 2006, routine due diligence testing of samples of rice flours, drawn from milled library samples from our former flour milling business, revealed the apparent presence of aflatoxin B1.

All of the rice kernels (grains) used for milling into rice flours had been bought under contract. All the rice grain deliveries had, as normal, been certified as being 'aflatoxin free'.

Our investigations revealed that the rice grain deliveries believed to be from an approved Portugese source were in fact from an unapproved Pakistani source, via an unknown rice mill in Sweden. The certificates supplied related to the Portugese material, not the Pakistani material that had been delivered and unwittingly used to make rice flours. It was imperative that all the affected rice grains and rice flours in the food supply chain were traced, the supply chain halted, the Food Standards Agency alerted and any affected finished foods removed from the market.

From May 9, when it was confirmed that potentially contaminated grains had been in use the entire down-steam food supply chain was halted. This involved 11x25 tonnes of material, 21 different direct customers, support from the Food Standards Agency and a public recall of three finished foods. The whole process took only eight days to complete. The incident, described as a 'showpiece' withdrawal, demonstrates Northern Foods absolute dedication to food safety and the professionalism of our technical services team.