Bottled beer recalled from UK supermarkets due to glass contamination fears

Sainsbury's, Tesco and Asda are among six UK supermarkets that have had to withdraw bottles of beer over fears they may contain pieces of glass due to a manufacturing fault.

French beer brand, Brasserie de Saint-Omer, has also had brands of its beer recalled from Aldi, Morrisons and The Co-op with the best before date up to and including 30 September 2013.

It is believed a number of bottles may contain pieces of glass due to a manufacturing fault.

Precautionary basis

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) expanded the recall of beer bottles yesterday, after an intial recall aimed at Sainsbury's last week.

Brasserie de Saint-Omer is recalling affected products on a precautionary basis from Tesco and other retailers.

“Point-of-sale notices will be displayed in stores, explaining to consumers what they should do if they have bought the affected products."

It is unclear how many bottles have been affected by the recall and how the potential fault occurred during manufacturing.

“As a precautionary measure our supplier Brasserie de Saint-Omer is recalling Biere D’Or (10 x 25cl) with a use-by date up to and including 30.09.13,” David Nieberg, Tesco media relations manager, said in a statement sent to FoodQualityNews.com.   

“Customers who return affected products to their local store will receive a full refund.”

Affected beers

Sainsbury’s started the recall last week with its Biere des Moulins Lager and St Cervois Premium Lager.

It has since been expanded to include Brasserie de Saint-Omer Panaché, 10x25cl.

In an emailed statment a Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “Due to a production fault at our supplier’s brewery, a limited number of bottles of this lager may contain small pieces of glass.

"We are asking all customers who have bought these products with a best-before-date up to and including 22 September 2013 to return them to their nearest store as a precautionary measure.

"We have worked with our supplier to fix this problem and are confident that products with a use by date later than 23 September 2013 are unaffected.”

The recall from Asda includes: Asda Bière de Luxe, 10x250ml, Asda French Lager, 10x250ml and Brasserie de Saint-Omer Shandy, 10x25cl.

Tori Pourzand, head of corporate PR at Asda, told this publication: "We take issues of customer safety extremely seriously which is why as a precautionary measure, we have recalled these products.

"We have launched a full investigation with the supplier to find out what has happened."

Aldi is withdrawing Aldi Brasserie Bière Blonde Lager, 8x25cl, Aldi Brasserie French Lager, 10x25cl and Aldi Brasserie Shandy, 10x25cl.

Co-op's affected brands are French Premium Lager, 8x250ml and 18x250ml Brasserie de Saint-Omer Lite, 24x25cl.

Morrisons are recalling Brasserie de Saint-Omer Export, 8x25cl and 18x250ml, Brasserie de Saint-Omer Panaché, 10x25cl and Bière Continentale, 10x25cl.

FoodQualityNews.com tried to contact Brasserie de Saint-Omer but was unable to do so prior to publication.