⚠ LIVE — European Consumer Safety Watch 💊 Medicines: 31 in last 7 days 🍎 Food: 160 in last 7 days 🧸 Products: 98 in last 7 days 🟢 Monitoring: EMA · RASFF · NVWA · FAGG · FAVV · EFSA · Safety Gate ⏱ Last fetch: 5 hours ago ⚠ LIVE — European Consumer Safety Watch 💊 Medicines: 31 in last 7 days 🍎 Food: 160 in last 7 days 🧸 Products: 98 in last 7 days 🟢 Monitoring: EMA · RASFF · NVWA · FAGG · FAVV · EFSA · Safety Gate ⏱ Last fetch: 5 hours ago
🛡️ EUSW
💊 Medicines 🍎 Food 🧸 Products 🔎 Search
📊 Data
🏷 Brands 🌍 Countries ℹ️ About ✉ Unsubscribe
🇬🇧
🇬🇧 English 🇳🇱 Nederlands 🇫🇷 Français 🇩🇪 Deutsch 🇪🇸 Español 🇮🇹 Italiano 🇵🇹 Português 🇵🇱 Polski 🇸🇪 Svenska 🇷🇴 Română 🇨🇿 Čeština 🇫🇮 Suomi 🇩🇰 Dansk
🍎 Food DE October 8, 2021

Exceeding maximum level of phthalic acid in benzoic acid from the Netherlands

Classification
Non-compliance notification
Risk
No risk
Category
feed additives
Origin
Netherlands
Notifier
Germany
🗄
Archived (older alert)
This alert was reported 1704 days ago and has been moved from our active feed to the archive. The original safety information still applies — we have no confirmation from the issuing agency that the product is safe again. Refer to the official notice for the current status.
📈 Timeline
0 days in total
May 17, 2026 May 17, 2026
Daily snapshot data starts accumulating once the scheduler runs — for now this is interpolated from the agency's first/last dates.

What is this? Benzoic acid is a food additive used to stop mold. Phthalic acid is a chemical that should not be in it.

What's happening? Too much phthalic acid was found in benzoic acid from the Netherlands. Germany told stores to stop selling it.

Does this affect me? If you bought food with this benzoic acid, it may have been recalled.

What should I do? Check any food you have with this additive. Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you are unsure.

🤖 This plain-language summary is automatically generated from the official agency notice using AI. It is for general information only — not medical advice. For decisions about your health, always consult a pharmacist or doctor and read the official source linked below.

🔬 Medical / technical details (for professionals)
Agency-published detail

Classification: Non-compliance notification · Risk: No risk · Category: feed additives · Origin: Netherlands · Notifier: Germany

First published
October 8, 2021
Last refreshed by us
3 weeks ago
Severity (as classified)
Medium
Official source
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/search?notificationReference=AA21.5417

All information on this page comes from the official agency notice. We translate and summarise it; we don't add or edit facts.

Related alerts

Low FR 4 days ago

boucherie courthieu — pâté de foie pur porc

The pâté contains clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism. Do not eat or use it.
🥫
Low LT 4 days ago

Country of origin of fish oil supplements

Classification: Non-compliance notification · Risk: No risk · Category: dietetic foods, food supplements and fortified foods · Origin: unknown origin · Notifier: Lithuania
🍗 🦠
Low LV LT 4 days ago

Salmonella Infantis (in 1 out of 5 units) in spice-marinated chicken drumsticks.

Classification: Information notification for attention · Risk: Not serious · Category: poultry meat and poultry meat products · Hazard: Salmonella infantis - {pathogenic micro-organisms} · Origin: Lit...
🐟 🦠
Low FR 4 days ago

Listeria monocytogenes detected prawns

Classification: Information notification for attention · Risk: Potentially serious · Category: crustaceans and products thereof · Hazard: Listeria monocytogenes - {pathogenic micro-organisms} *** meso...
🍗 🦠
Low LT EE LV 4 days ago

Salmonella spp. detected in chicken products from Lithuania

Classification: Information notification for attention · Risk: Serious · Category: poultry meat and poultry meat products · Hazard: Salmonella Newport - {pathogenic micro-organisms} *** Salmonella inf...
🍗 🦠
Low LV PL 4 days ago

Salmonella Agona (in 4 out of 5 units) and Salmonella Newport (in 1 out of 5 units) in fresh minced turkey breast meat.

Classification: Information notification for attention · Risk: Not serious · Category: poultry meat and poultry meat products · Hazard: Salmonella Agona - {pathogenic micro-organisms} *** Salmonella N...
🐾
Low EUROPEAN COMMISSION 4 days ago

Import from Slovakia to Switzerland: Falsification of a puppy's age

Classification: For verification · Risk: Potential risk · Category: live animals · Origin: Slovakia · Notifier: European Commission
🥬
Low DE 4 days ago

Foreign object (metal pin) found in a tin of beans from Lebanon, imported via the Netherlands

Classification: Non-compliance notification · Risk: Potential risk · Category: fruits and vegetables · Origin: Lebanon · Notifier: Germany

❓ Frequently asked questions

▸ What is this product recall alert about?
Exceeding maximum level of phthalic acid in benzoic acid from the Netherlands. Classification: Non-compliance notification · Risk: No risk · Category: feed additives · Origin: Netherlands · Notifier: Germany
▸ When was this alert issued?
This alert was issued on October 8, 2021 by EU RASFF.
▸ Which countries are affected?
The alert applies to Germany.
▸ How serious is this alert?
Medium risk. A medium risk means harm is possible under certain conditions. Read the notice and act on the recommended steps.
▸ What should I do?
If you have this product at home, stop using it and return it to the point of purchase for a refund. Keep the receipt if you have one — most retailers refund without it for safety recalls.
▸ Where can I find the official notice?
The full official notice is published on webgate.ec.europa.eu.

💬 Discussion

Share your experience or ask a question. Real names and email are optional but moderation friendly.

No comments yet — be the first.

We email a confirmation link. Your address stays private.

⚠️ We aggregate official notices. We do not give medical advice. For medical or legal decisions, consult the source agency and a qualified professional.