Second update on withdrawal of soft drinks due to the presence of benzene

Tuesday 11 April 2006

Food Alert: for Information

Ref: 19/2006 update2 (20/2006 update 2 - Scotland)

Aldi Stores Ltd withdrew a batch of Hyberry High Juice Blackcurrant Squash ' No Added Sugar, 1 Litre on the 31st of March due to the presence of benzene at levels above 10 parts per billion (ppb)

People who have inhaled very high levels of benzene in the work place have been found to increase their risk of cancer. Benzene has been detected at far lower levels in some soft drinks. Its presence in soft drinks is thought to be the result of an interaction between the preservative sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

The affected product is:
Hyberry High Juice Blackcurrant Squash – No Added Sugar, 1 Litre
The affected batch code is L45339, best before SEP 06

No other Hyberry product is known to be affected.