Three ABC Dophilus Batches Contain Infectious Fungus

Vitamin company Solgar UK has issued a recall of batches of ABC Dophilus food supplement, which were found to contain a potentially infectious fungus.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned that affected batches of the product contain the fungus Rhizophus oryzae, which can cause the opportunistic infection mucormycosis in humans.

Mucormycosis can cause health problems, particularly in vulnerable groups such as infants and anybody who has a weakened immune system. ABC Dophilus is marketed as a supplement for infants and children.

The recall affects only packs marked with the batch numbers 07402-01, 07402-02 and 07402-01R1.

No other batches are known to be affected, and retailers who stock the product have been asked to display a point-of-sale notice to explain to customers why the product is being recalled.

Anybody who has bought one of the affected batches has been advised to return it to the retailer for a full refund.

Expert Opinion

It is very worrying to see these concerns emerge and it is vital that consumers and retailers are aware of this problem and are able to check whether any batches they may have could be affected. <br/> <br/>"The bacteria identified in the batch can be extremely harmful so the seriousness of this issue should not be underestimated. It is vital that following a successful recall of the affected products steps are taken to understand how these issues emerged and what can be done to ensure safety is improved in the future. <br/> <br/>"The health and safety of consumers should always come first and it is vital that lessons are learned from this." Amandeep Dhillon - Partner