Recalled products: 14 safety alerts in Poland – March 2026

Introduction

In the period 09.03.2026 - 15.03.2026 the Polish supervisory authorities published 14 alerts concerning the safety of products available on the market. These recalled products include food, medicines, toys, climbing equipment, chemical preparations and electrical accessories. According to GIS, GIF and UOKiK, several of them pose a direct threat to consumers' life or health.

The most serious incidents involve the presence of progesterone in beef sold in the Selgros chain, suspected microbiological contamination of the injectable medicine Tullex 20 mg, critical defects in Petzl climbing harnesses, and excessive levels of methanol and dichloromethane in chemical products. These recalled products show how diverse the risks are – from food safety violations to a high risk of falls from height and electric shock.

According to GIS food safety alerts and information circulated via the EU Safety Gate system, any batch that poses a risk must be immediately withdrawn from the market. The Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate (GIF) supervises the safety of medicinal products, while the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) coordinates actions regarding unsafe consumer products. Below we present a detailed overview and analysis of all 14 notifications.

Key facts

Key recalled products – image cards

Ice Flower antifreeze liquid 5 l

Hazard: The product contains an excessive concentration of methanol (1.46% by weight). Methanol is highly toxic to the central nervous system and eyes; ingestion may lead to blindness or death. Potential effects include poisoning, severe vision damage and fatal outcome, which is why this product is among the most dangerous recalled products of the week.

Store: no data | EAN: 5907579205445 | Manufacturer: Ice Flower

Beef ribeye boneless Angus and beef tenderloin

Hazard: According to a GIS food safety alert, the presence of progesterone was detected in samples of beef intended for consumption. This hormone should not be present in food, and its intake with the diet may lead to hormonal disturbances and adverse effects, especially in children, pregnant women and people with endocrine disorders. This is a serious breach of food safety rules.

Store: Selgros | EAN: no data | Manufacturer: Zandbergen World's Finest Meat; Transgourmet Polska Sp. z o.o.

Petzl ASTRO and CANYON GUIDE harnesses

Hazard: In these harnesses, the front attachment point may unintentionally open during use. This can result in a fall from height or strangulation of the user. As highlighted in UOKiK notices, potential consequences include fall from height, serious injuries and life-threatening trauma, which makes these recalled products particularly dangerous for rope access workers and climbers.

Store: no data | EAN: no data | Manufacturer: Przedsiębiorstwo Handlowo - Usługowe AMC A. Ciszewski & K. Śmiałek sp.j.

Tullex 20 mg, solution for injection

Hazard: GIF reported that during long-term stability testing of Tullex 20 mg, an out-of-specification result was observed: microbial growth was detected in the sterility test. This indicates a justified suspicion of microbiological contamination of an injectable medicinal product. Potential effects include infection and severe local or systemic complications, including sepsis, especially dangerous for oncology patients and immunocompromised individuals.

Store: no data | EAN: 05995327187181 | Manufacturer: Egis Pharmaceuticals PLC

ECOFOCET headlight restoration liquid 800 g

Hazard: The product contains an excessive amount of dichloromethane. This substance affects the central nervous system, may impair neurological development and behaviour of the unborn child and is suspected of being carcinogenic when inhaled. Alert information from GIS and the EU Safety Gate system emphasises that prolonged or intense exposure to dichloromethane vapours may cause lasting health damage.

Store: Amazon (online sales) | EAN: no data | Manufacturer: ECOFOCET

Health hazard analysis

The set of alerts issued this week illustrates the full range of risks posed by recalled products: chemical, microbiological, physical and electrical. Methanol in antifreeze fluid is a highly toxic alcohol. Accidental ingestion, for example by a child, may cause headache, visual disturbances, vomiting, metabolic acidosis and, in severe cases, blindness and death. Dichloromethane in headlight restoration products depresses the central nervous system and can cause dizziness, loss of consciousness and, in the long term, an increased risk of cancer.

The presence of progesterone in beef violates EU food safety rules on the use of hormonal substances in food-producing animals. Long-term exposure to extra hormonal doses may disrupt the endocrine system, affect menstrual cycles, fertility and child development, and interact with medicines such as hormone replacement therapy. GIS warns against consuming beef from batches 517536 and 516014 because of this risk.

For medicines such as Tullex 20 mg and Medoxa, the main concerns are therapeutic efficacy and patient safety. A microbiologically contaminated injectable solution can introduce microorganisms directly into the bloodstream, leading to severe infections and sepsis. Non-homogeneous tablets, additional score lines or broken pieces in Medoxa may result in patients taking too high or too low doses of a glucocorticoid, with increased risks of metabolic disorders, hypertension, adrenal suppression and impaired immunity.

Climbing products and harnesses notified to UOKiK pose a high risk of falls from height. A cracked ice axe shaft or accidental opening of a harness buckle can cause spinal or head trauma and multiple injuries, potentially fatal. Likewise, seemingly simple recalled products such as a toy tricycle or faulty cables and power supplies may result in serious mechanical injuries, electric shocks and fires. Even though no salmonella, listeria or undeclared allergens were reported this week, these hazards remain common in food safety incidents and are closely monitored by GIS.

Affected stores

During the reviewed week, recalled products affected both large retail chains and online sales as well as specialist distribution channels. According to a GIS alert, the Selgros cash-and-carry chain had to withdraw specific batches of Angus beef ribeye and beef tenderloin because of progesterone detection. Customers of this chain should carefully check batch numbers 517536 and 516014 and the best-before dates.

Two hazardous chemical products for headlight restoration, ECOFOCET and FOCENAT, were mainly offered on the Amazon marketplace. Other recalled products, including Petzl and Ocun climbing gear, toys and electrical accessories, were sold through specialist outdoor shops, hardware stores and online retailers. As UOKiK stresses, distributors are obliged to inform their customers about corrective actions and remove unsafe batches from sale.

Advice for consumers

In view of the current alerts published by GIS, GIF and UOKiK, consumers should react promptly and systematically to recall information. Firstly, it is worth regularly checking official websites and comparing the data with products stored at home. Any recalled products should be separated from other goods and must not be used under any circumstances.

• Check the markings: compare the product name, batch number, expiry date and EAN with the details in the official notice. Even if the product looks fine, the identification data on the pack are decisive.
• Return the product: businesses are obliged to accept recalled products and offer a refund or other compensation. In many cases, a receipt is not required as long as you can prove the place of purchase.
• If you have consumed or used the product: monitor your health. If you experience symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, severe abdominal pain, shortness of breath, vision problems, palpitations or neurological signs, contact a doctor or go to an emergency department and inform staff about possible exposure to a recalled product.
• Medicines: do not use packs from series covered by GIF decisions. Consult your doctor or pharmacist to obtain a replacement pack from a different batch and discuss any changes in treatment.

GIF recommends immediate discontinuation of Tullex 20 mg batches 253725 and 253723 and Femoston batch 378587 with defective ATD safety seals. This reduces the risk of exposure to potentially falsified or contaminated medicines and helps maintain continuity and safety of therapy.

Regulatory context

The recall system in Poland is based on both national law and EU regulations. In the field of food safety, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 plays a key role, requiring food business operators to immediately withdraw any food that does not comply with safety requirements and to inform consumers. GIS is responsible for publishing food safety alerts and cooperates with the State Sanitary Inspection in follow-up actions.

For medicinal products, the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate acts under the Polish Pharmaceutical Law, issuing decisions to suspend and recall batches when there is a suspicion of quality defects, contamination or falsification. UOKiK, together with the Trade Inspection, supervises the safety of non-food consumer products under the General Product Safety Directive and national implementing acts, and it reports serious cases via the EU Safety Gate system. UOKiK also reminds that consumers have the right to repair, replacement or refund for unsafe products and can pursue claims even without a paper receipt, provided they can document the purchase.