The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A CARIBBEAN distribution conglomerate has announced the recall of several of its curry powders due to the presence of lead, warning people to avoid their consumption to avoid potential “permanent adverse health consequences”.

GraceKennedy Ltd, in a statement, said three of its Grace Curry products have been recalled due to the “presence of lead in some variants of curry products” that were distributed by its “former supplier” Oriental Packing Company Inc, which is based in Miami, Florida. The products have distributed within the Bahamas, United States and Bermuda.

However, GraceKennedy said no illnesses have been reported in connection with the products being recalled to date. Nonetheless, it stressed that lead can accumulate in the body over time and may cause “serious” and sometimes permanent negative health complications.

The products being recalled are both the two ounce and six ounce Grace Mild Jamaican Style Curry Powder in the glass container, both the two ounce and six ounce Grace Hot Jamaican Style Curry Powder in the glass container, as well as the four ounce Grace Caribbean Tradition Hot Curry Powder in the plastic container.

The statement said consumers who purchased the Grace Curry products bearing the relevant best-before dates and corresponding batch numbers should not consume them, but instead “should return same to point of purchase, where the full cost will be refunded.” The best before dates and batch numbers can be found on the top of the product caps, the statement said.

Ryan Mack, GraceKennedy Foods (USA) president and CEO, said: “GraceKennedy wishes to assure consumers that their safety is paramount and that providing safe, high quality products to our consumers remains our number one priority.”

He added that the recall did not include any other batches of Grace Curry products. The announcement by GraceKennedy comes after Oriental Packing Co reportedly recalled 377,000 pounds of various curry powder sold under Blue Mountain, Jamaica Choice, Ocho Rios, Oriental and Grace brands because the seasonings are contaminated with lead.

According to a report by NBC New York, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said 15 different kinds of powder seasons from Oriental Packing Co were included in the recall. The recall was reportedly the result of sampling by the New York State Health Department during routine sampling.

Oriental Packing has reportedly ceased production of the curry while the product is being investigated.

RECALLED PRODUCTS

The best before dates and batch numbers for the recalled products, respective of their net weights, beginning with the first listed products, are:

BB 03/11/19 OPCLOT #030716 and BB 03/28/19 OPCLOT #032516 (two oz Grace Mild Jamaican);

BB 03/11/19 OPCLOT # 030716 (six oz Grace Mild Jamaican);

BB 03/11/19 OPCLOT # 030716 and BB 03/28/19 OPCLOT # 032516 (two oz Grace Hot Jamaican);

BB 03/11/19 OPCLOT # 030716 and BB 04/11/19 OPCLOT # 040816 (six oz Grace Hot Jamaican);

BB 12/14/19 OPCLOT # 121115, BB 12/14/19 OPCLOT # 120115, BB 03/11/19 OPCLOT # 030716, BB 03/28/19 OPCLOT # 032516, and BB 04/11/19 OPCLOT # 040816 (four oz Grace Caribbean Tradition).