Recalled products: 14 safety alerts – March 2026

Introduction

In the period 23.03.2026 - 29.03.2026, Polish supervisory authorities published 14 alerts concerning the safety of products available on the domestic market. The recalled products include not only medicines used in imaging diagnostics, but also kitchen accessories intended for food contact, clothing, jewellery, aquarium lighting and car alloy wheels. The most serious hazards concern the presence of metal particles in the contrast media Omnipaque and Visipaque, migration of lead and cadmium from colourful glasses sold in Flying Tiger stores, as well as the presence of PFOA in clothing and ski gloves from KiK. According to information from the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) and the EU Safety Gate system, many of these cases require immediate market withdrawal. The Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS) emphasises that these issues also affect food safety, as contaminated food-contact materials may indirectly expose consumers to harmful substances. The Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate (GIF) warns against the use of defective batches of medicines. This weekly digest presents all recalled products, explains the health risks and offers practical guidance for consumers.

Key information

• This week, 14 products from various categories were recalled: medicines, kitchen accessories, clothing, jewellery, aquarium equipment and automotive parts.
• The most serious recalled products are the contrast agents Omnipaque and Visipaque (metal particles in injection solution) and Flying Tiger glasses with lead and cadmium migration (GIS alerts).
• UOKiK and GIS point to serious health risks related to PFOA in clothing, cadmium in jewellery and the risk of electric shock from the aquarium lamp.
• GIF reported quality non-compliance for the medicine Jaxteran (reduced amount of active substance in some capsules), which may reduce treatment efficacy.
• Dezent TV alloy wheels with a possible material defect have been classified as high risk due to the possibility of cracking while driving.

Selected recalled products – details

Below we present the most important recalled products with the highest risk level. The data are based on official communications from GIF, GIS, UOKiK and notifications submitted to the EU Safety Gate system.

Omnipaque 647 mg/ml (300 mg iodine/ml)

Hazard: The manufacturer detected metal particles originating from the mould for 100 ml polypropylene bottles, contaminating the solution for injection and causing adherent or deposited solid particles inside the containers. The defect was assessed as posing a high risk to patients' health and life, with potential parenteral complications, particle embolism and severe reactions. GIF ordered the recall of batches 17320901, 17374661, 17244048 and 17374668 from the market.

Store: Hospitals and imaging units | EAN: 05909990667963 | Manufacturer: GE Healthcare A.S.

Visipaque 652 mg/ml (320 mg iodine/ml)

Hazard: Foreign bodies – metal particles detached from the mould used to produce 100 ml polypropylene bottles – were found in the containers, leading to contamination of the injection solution and a high risk to patients' health and life. Potential consequences include vascular embolism, severe thromboembolic complications and inflammatory reactions. GIF is recalling batches 17320931, 17320932, 17320933 and 17422210.

Store: Hospitals and imaging units | EAN: 05909990077434 | Manufacturer: GE Healthcare A.S.

Flying Tiger 220 ml glasses (pumpkin, fruits, hearts)

Hazard: According to a GIS warning, migration of lead and cadmium from the rim area into liquids was detected in glasses with pumpkin, orange, hearts, strawberries and lemons motifs. This means that heavy metals can leach into beverages, increasing the long-term risk of kidney damage, nervous system disorders and developmental problems in children. GIS warns against using these items for food contact and recommends returning them to Flying Tiger stores.

Store: Flying Tiger | EAN: N/A | Manufacturer: Tiger Warsaw Sp. z o.o.

Sinsay rings, model 382AZ-SLV

Hazard: As UOKiK reports, rings sold in the Sinsay chain were found to contain cadmium above the permissible limit. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that can accumulate in the body and damage kidneys and bones, as well as affect the cardiovascular system. For this reason, the product does not meet safety requirements and has been classified as a recalled product with a critical level of risk.

Store: Sinsay (in-store and online) | EAN: N/A | Manufacturer: Sinsay

Dezent TV alloy wheels, type TTVZ9xx51E

Hazard: The manufacturer ALCAR POLSKA informed UOKiK about a possible material defect in alloy wheels of type TTVZ9xx51E (size 6.5x16, bolt pattern 5x120, ET51), distributed from June 2022 to September 2025. The defect may cause cracking of the wheel spoke during use, which in extreme cases can lead to loss of vehicle control and a serious road accident. This is a clear example of how recalled products in the automotive sector can directly affect road safety.

Store: Automotive dealers and specialist shops | EAN: TTVZ9BP51E, TTVZ9BA51E, TTVZ9SA51E | Manufacturer: ALCAR POLSKA Sp. z o.o.

Health risk analysis

Looking at this March batch of recalled products, it is clear that chemical and physical hazards dominate, and only indirectly relate to classic food safety. In the case of Flying Tiger glasses, the key issue is migration of lead and cadmium from the rim into drinks. Lead can cause impaired development of the nervous system in children, learning difficulties and hypertension in adults, while cadmium mainly damages kidneys and bones. Under EU rules on food-contact materials (including Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004), such heavy metal migration is not permitted, which is why GIS publishes detailed alerts to protect food safety.

In clothing items (Kiki & Koko softshell jacket, Janina ski gloves), PFOA was detected, belonging to the PFAS group – the so-called "forever chemicals". These substances are very persistent, remain in the environment and in the human body for a long time, may interfere with hormonal balance and fertility, and increase the risk of some cancers. For this reason, EU legislation is gradually tightening limits on PFAS in consumer products.

This week the most dangerous products are medicines – the contrast agents Omnipaque and Visipaque – where the presence of metal particles in solutions for injection may cause vascular embolism, inflammatory reactions or tissue damage. GIF has classified this risk as critical and ordered the immediate recall of the affected batches. In the case of Jaxteran, the problem is a reduced dose of the active substance in some capsules, which may lead to decreased efficacy of multiple sclerosis therapy and insufficient clinical response.

Physical hazards must not be underestimated either: Dezent TV alloy wheels increase the risk of serious traffic accidents, and the Happet aquarium lamp may cause electric shock due to insufficient mechanical strength and lack of moisture protection. Similarly, the Decathlon RAIN JACKET DISC EN17353 loses the required fluorescent colour after light exposure, making users less visible on the road and more likely to be hit. Although this week's GIS alerts do not relate to typical biological hazards such as salmonella, listeria or food allergens, they illustrate how broadly we should understand food safety and the safety of everyday consumer products. "Consumers should immediately stop using all listed product batches" is an accurate rule of thumb in case of doubt.

Affected stores

In the analysed week, recalled products affected several popular retail chains. Flying Tiger accounts for as many as five items (a set of 220 ml coloured glasses), KiK for two clothing products (Kiki & Koko softshell jacket and Janina ski gloves), and Decathlon for the RAIN JACKET DISC EN17353 waterproof jacket. Sinsay is recalling a batch of jewellery (rings), while the Happet aquarium lamp and Dezent TV wheels were available in specialist outlets (pet, aquarium and automotive stores).

The medicines Jaxteran, Omnipaque and Visipaque were distributed via pharmacies and healthcare facilities. In line with pharmaceutical law, wholesalers and hospitals are obliged by GIF to stop distribution and return defective batches to the manufacturer. Consumers should follow updates on the GIF, GIS and UOKiK websites to check whether recalled products are present in their homes. GIS warns against using 220 ml fruit motif glasses from Flying Tiger because of lead and cadmium migration.

Consumer advice

If you own any of the products described above, the first step is to stop using it immediately. This applies in particular to Flying Tiger glasses, KiK clothing and gloves containing PFOA, Sinsay rings with cadmium, the Happet aquarium lamp and Dezent TV alloy wheels. For food-contact articles and items that may affect food safety, it is safest not to try to "fix" them, but to treat them as recalled products and return them to the retailer.

Most major chains allow returns of unsafe goods even without a receipt, provided you can present another proof of purchase (bank statement, online order confirmation). UOKiK reminds consumers that they have the right to return a dangerous product even without a paper receipt if they can prove the purchase. Medicines covered by GIF decisions (Jaxteran, Omnipaque, Visipaque) should be returned to the pharmacy or discussed with your treating physician, who will decide whether to continue or change therapy. Do not stop taking prescribed medicines on your own without medical advice.

If exposure has already occurred – for example, you have been drinking from glasses contaminated with heavy metals, wearing clothing with PFOA, or underwent an examination using a defective contrast agent – monitor your health. If you notice worrying symptoms (abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, shortness of breath, rash, sudden limb pain, neurological signs), contact a doctor or call the emergency number 112. You can also report dangerous or suspicious products directly to UOKiK if you observe problems that have not yet appeared in official recalls.

Legal context

The product recall process in Poland is based on national and EU legislation on general product safety and food safety. Under Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and the Polish Food and Nutrition Safety Act, GIS is responsible for GIS alerts in the area of food and food-contact materials. For medicines, the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate (GIF) is the competent authority and may order suspension from sale and recall of defective batches, as in the cases of Omnipaque, Visipaque and Jaxteran.

Supervision of non-food consumer products (clothing, jewellery, electronics, automotive accessories) lies primarily with UOKiK, which operates under the General Product Safety Directive and EU Market Surveillance Regulation 2019/1020. If a product poses a risk to health or life, the company is obliged to promptly take corrective actions – withdraw the product from sale, inform consumers and offer return or replacement. UOKiK also cooperates with the EU Safety Gate system to share information on dangerous products across Member States. Consumers have the right to a refund or repair free of charge if a product is found to be dangerous. UOKiK reminds that consumers may claim their rights even if the store initially refuses to accept a recalled product back.