AVA recalling 18 Evergreen Life manuka honey products

SINGAPORE - Certain manuka honey products from a New Zealand company is being recalled by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore.

Evergreen Life Limited, a New Zealand company that produces health products, is recalling 18 manuka honey products as they may have contained non-approved substances, said the country's Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).

Substances such as dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and methylglyoxal (MG) may have been used during the processing of honey. There is no food safety risk associated with the recalled products, said MPI.

AVA is working with the local importer of these manuka honey products to recall the items as food regulations here do not allow additives to be added to honey.

AVA advises consumers who have purchased the affected products not to consume them and to discard them. While there is no food safety risk, those who have consumed this product and have any health concerns can consult your doctor or seek medical advice.

The 18 Evergreen Life manuka honey products are:

- Evergreen Manuka Blended Methyl Glyoxal Level 30+ (including product labelled as MGO 30+ mg/kg)

- Evergreen Manuka New Zealand Honey MGO 30+ mg/kg (including product labelled as 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Methyl Glyoxal Level 30+)

- Evergreen Manuka New Zealand Honey MGO 80+ mg/kg (including product labelled as 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Methyl Glyoxal Level 80+)

- Evergreen Manuka New Zealand Honey MGO 100+ mg/kg (including product labelled as 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Methyl Glyoxal Level 100+)

- Evergreen Manuka New Zealand Honey MGO 150+ mg/kg (including product labelled as 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Methyl Glyoxal Level 150+)

- Evergreen Manuka New Zealand Honey MGO 200+ mg/kg (including product labelled as 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Methyl Glyoxal Level 200+)

- Evergreen Manuka New Zealand Honey MGO 350+ mg/kg (including product labelled as 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Methyl Glyoxal Level 350+)

- Evergreen Manuka New Zealand Honey MGO 600+ mg/kg (including product labelled as 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Methyl Glyoxal Level 600+)

- Evergreen Manuka New Zealand Honey MGO 890+ mg/kg (including product labelled as 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Methyl Glyoxal Level 890+)

- Evergreen Deer Horn & Active Manuka Methyl Glyoxal Level 100+ (including product labelled as MGO 100+ mg/kg)

- Evergreen Deer Horn & Active Manuka MGO 350+ (including product labelled as Methyl Glyoxal Level 350+ or MGO 350+mg/kg)

- Evergreen Manuka 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Total Activity 5+

- Evergreen Manuka 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Total Activity 7+

- Evergreen Manuka 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Total Activity 12+

- Evergreen Manuka 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Total Activity 15+

- Evergreen Manuka 100% Pure New Zealand Honey Total Activity 20+

- Evergreen Manuka with Pine Bark & Royal Jelly MGO 150+ mg/kg (including product labelled as Methyl Glyoxal Level 150+)

- Evergreen Manuka with Royal Jelly & Kiwi fruit Total Activity 15+ (including product with a yellow coloured label with the same wording)

Affected products include all batches, sizes and label variations. Evergreen manuka products are packaged in dark brown plastic containers in various sizes. Evergreen Deer Horn & Active Manuka product plastic containers may be sold in an outer dark green cardboard box.

klim@sph.com.sg