In the monitoring activity of the Ministry of Health on the products present on supermarket shelves, a brand of breadsticks. The ministry, in fact, has issued a warning note for possible chemical risk, with a brand present in various chains that could contain ochratoxin out limitwhich is why it is recommended not to consume the product and return it to the point of sale.
Call for breadsticks
Ending up at the center of a warning note drawn up by the Ministry of Health are the Linea Derby brand breadsticks, i.e. Grisbontà derby. It is, as stated in the product packaging itself, a “Turin stretched breadstick as good as it used to be”.
Made with soft wheat and in a freshness-saving 50g pack, the TMC batch with expires February 26, 2025 was recalled due to a possible chemical risk.
After learning of the risks for sultanas, consumers must also deal with those for derby brand breadsticks, produced by Uniongriss Srl, with a factory in Strada del Francia 135/28 in Turin. Specifically, we read on the back of the package, it is the Grissinificio Linea Derby.
To recognize the offending package, just pay attention to some details such as:
- the packaging, transparent and with the breadsticks in plain sight, with red references on the top and bottom;
- the presence of the wording “without palm oil”;
- on the back, the words “type “0” breadsticks with sunflower oil”;
- the weight, with the breadsticks mentioned being the 300g ones;
- the internal packaging, these are the breadsticks divided into 6 portions of 50 g each.
The reason for the recall
In the note published on the Ministry of Health website, the ministry states that the consumption of breadsticks could be risky. In fact, after some studies, it emerged “the chemical analysis does not comply“.
What set the alarm bells ringing would have been the excess presence of ochratoxin which, as stated in the warning note, is “out of limit”.
What is ochratoxin
Ochratoxin is one mycotoxin produced naturally by certain molds, which can be present in a number of foods including cereals, preserved meats, fresh and dried fruit, and cheeses. Foods of plant origin are the main sources of ochratoxins in the diet, however it is also present in foods of animal origin, especially in pork products and dairy products, in which it is mainly related to the superficial proliferation of toxicogenic fungi during the maturing and storage phases of the products.
If ingested in large quantities, ochratoxin can cause damage to the entire organismbeing capable of binding to blood serum albumins.
Particular attention must be paid, because it is a nephrotoxic substance, that is, capable of causing damage to the kidneys, leading to chronic renal failure. But also problems with immune systemweakening it and increasing susceptibility to infections, and the cardiovascular system, which can be affected with an increase in blood pressure.
If ingested in excess quantities, the symptoms that may be felt are:
- abdominal pain;
- confusion;
- dizziness;
- heachache;
- diarrhea;
- constipation;
- nausea and vomiting.
In some cases the symptoms can be mistaken for normal gastrointestinal disorders.
