In July 2024, Australian wellness company Kintra Foods initiated a voluntary recall of its herbal tea products sold in the United Kingdom after insect contamination was detected in sealed packages. The affected blends—Calm & Relax, Chamomile, and Sleepy—had been distributed through TK Maxx and Homesense stores between April and June 2024. Following consumer reports and internal quality assessments, Kintra Foods collaborated with UK food authorities to remove the compromised products from shelves. [1]
The UK’s food safety regulations are specifically violated by the presence of foreign material, such live or dead insects, which poses risks such as:
Even if insects in packaged herbal teas don’t always cause harm, their presence points to failures in storage hygiene, post-harvest handling, or packaging integrity—key concerns under food safety regulations.
Brand:
Cuisine of Kintra Products Affected:
Production Window: Products manufactured between April 1 and June 30, 2024 (exact date unspecified)
Retail Distribution: Sold through TK Maxx and Homesense retail stores in the UK
Type of Recall: Voluntary recall at customer level
Presence of insects identified within sealed product packaging, posing potential contamination risk
Product | Pack Size | Batch Codes |
Kintra Foods Organic Premium Leaf Teas – Calm & Relax | 60 g | 6057, 6071, 6118, 6126, 6207 |
Kintra Foods Organic Premium Leaf Teas – Chamomile | 40 g | 5887, 6111 |
Kintra Foods Organic Premium Leaf Teas – Sleepy | 40 g | 6058, 6102, 6125 |
The Response Timeline
Best Practices for Consumers
If you purchased herbal teas from Kintra Foods in the UK in April and June of 2024:
What does that imply for producers?
The recall serves as a warning that even dry, shelf-stable items like herbal teas can have a high chance of failing in terms of quality. Manufacturers might consider the following lessons:
How FRL Promotes the Safe Processing of Beverages
The Food Research Lab helps businesses reduce recalls and boost consumer trust by offering:
“Even dried herbal teas require stringent process control. Little errors may lead to serious risks.
FRL Food Safety Expert
Foreign body contamination may have a devastating impact on even well-established wellness firms, as evidenced by Kintra Foods herbal teas’ 2024 recall. This case highlights the vital importance of rigorous packaging, efficient pest management, and thorough quality control throughout the herbal tea manufacturing process.
Collaborate with FRL to guarantee the secure introduction of products.
protect your herbal beverage business with industry-backed safety procedures:
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