According to the Food Standards Agency, the firm was unable to demonstrate satisfactory controls that could prevent the growth of Clostridium botulinum. This could lead to a serious case of food poisioning called botulism, which could even be fatal.
Point-of-sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that sell the products, including Lidl and Marks & Spencer, which have their own brand supplied by the firm. If you have bought any of the products, it has been advised that they are not eaten. Shoppers have been advised to return them to the store of purchase where a full refund will be issued.
Haggis
The recalled products include numerous variants of haggis products, black pudding and a white pudding.
A spokesperson for Macsween said that if they were cooked properly, the products were not a threat for consumption. "The quality and safety of our products is of paramount importance to us so we have taken the decision to undertake a precautionary and voluntary recall of selected products," said the spokesperson.
"The products pose no risk to consumer safety if cooked properly, in accordance with the on-pack guidelines.
Regular testing
"As part of our regular testing, we identified that some of the water content in our products was not to the stringent levels we adhere to. The company takes this matter very seriously and all steps have been taken to remove products from the supply chain promptly and efficiently.
"After fully investigating, we have immediately put in place additional measures to ensure that the issue is addressed. This includes additional water and salt metering, recipe recalibration, refreshed staff training and additional testing both in-house and independently. We are satisfied that the issue has been resolved and that our products are the highest quality and taste possible.
"We have acted quickly and responsibly to address the situation and ensure only the best products are in the market for our consumers to enjoy."