Bottled water recalled as algae found

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Multipacks of 1.5-litre NZ Natural still spring water are being recalled after algae were discovered in a bottle.

The recall affects bottles with a best before date of October 24, 2013 through to and including October 30, 2013, and follows a consumer complaint identifying algal growth in a bottle.

Mark Callaghan, chief executive of Frucor, which owns NZ Natural water, said although there is a small potential food safety risk, it was considered to be low.
 
"We believe the contamination to be limited to a handful of bottles within the multipacks and isolated to one run.

"However, the safety of our consumers is our highest priority so we have recalled the entire run. We are working with the Food Safety Authority and retailers to ensure that stock is removed from sale as quickly and effectively as possible."

Callaghan said the company had identified an issue with one run of bottles and not the water.
 
"The water is clear, pure New Zealand spring water and we have resolved that random bottles within this run were likely to not have been cleaned properly by the machine at the time, allowing the possibility of small amounts of green algae to grow if exposed to sunlight," he said.
 
Frucor said there had been no confirmed reports of illness as a result of the issue, but urged anyone concerned about their health to seek medical advice.

- © Fairfax NZ News