The Middlesbrough firm said in a statement last week: “Baketime can confirm that an issue with pest activity was identified at our premises in January 2016.
“The health and safety of our consumers is of utmost importance to us and therefore the company took immediate steps together with our reputable pest control company to manage the situation and eradicate it as quickly as possible.”
The bakery disclosed a programme of “intense pest control measures” was implemented and the site was said to be declared clear of pest activity within two weeks. The firm’s pest control contractor continued to make frequent visits to the site to ensure pest control measures were effective.
Further evidence of pest activity
But last month, further evidence of pest activity was identified and a second control programme was implemented.
Baketime voluntarily ceased production temporarily in mid-March, after consultation with the local environmental health officer (EHO), following a routine site inspection. The firm said, as a precautionary measure, it had decided to recall product manufactured between January 18 and March 16.
The bakery’s production area was again declared cleared of pest activity on March 23 and after determining that it was safe to produce, “Baketime recommenced manufacturing”, said the business.
The firm pledged to continue to work closely with its local EHO and pest control contractor to ensure that the issue had been “properly eradicated and hygienic standards on site are upheld”.
No evidence of contamination
Baketime said it had also implemented a full action plan to prevent a recurrence of the problem. While there had been no evidence of any contamination to any products produced, the business decided to recall certain batch codes in the interest of health and safety and on a precautionary basis.
“The company apologises for any inconvenience this has caused,” a spokesman said.
The recall affected a range including: cheese thins, shortbread, chip cookies and fudge brownies, shortbread and biscotti. Read a full list of the recalled products here.
In addition to Aldi, the recalled products were sold by Asvina, Happy Shopper, Booker and LBV.
After the recall was announced on March 29, an Aldi spokesman told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “We have recalled a number of Aldi-branded products that have been manufactured by Baketime and have immediately suspended all orders with this supplier while we investigate this matter.”