Introduction
In the period 08.06.2026 - 14.06.2026, supervisory authorities published 6 alerts concerning product safety in Poland. These included GIS alerts related to food safety as well as notifications from the EU RASFF and Safety Gate systems covering food products and personal protective equipment. The most serious hazards concerned excessive levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in flower pollen, the presence of Salmonella in poultry meat, high acrylamide content in biscuits and residues of the pesticide chlorpyrifos in grapes.
According to GIS notices and RASFF notifications, some product batches have been withdrawn from the market, while others are subject to additional controls and warnings. As the Polish Competition and Consumer Protection Office (UOKiK) reminds, consumers are entitled to a refund or replacement of withdrawn products and, in the event of symptoms of poisoning, to medical assistance. This summary presents all six alerts together with key information and practical guidance on how to protect food safety and health.
GIS warns against consuming Apetilki Petit Beurre biscuits from the indicated batches due to elevated acrylamide levels.
Exceeding permissible levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in flower pollen poses a significant toxic risk to the liver with long-term consumption.
Withdrawals from the market
| Product | Store | Decision type | Hazard | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PROFUS protective gloves 10XL | not specified | Safety Gate notification | Low abrasion resistance, easy tearing | High |
| Apetilki Petit Beurre biscuits | not specified | GIS warning | High acrylamide level | High |
| Pollen | not specified | RASFF notification | Pyrrolizidine alkaloids above the limit | Medium |
| Flower pollen Sądecki Bartnik | not specified | GIS warning | Excess pyrrolizidine alkaloids | Critical |
Notifications and holds
| Product | Store | Decision type | Hazard | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken breast cutlets | not specified | RASFF notification | Presence of Salmonella in 25 g | High |
| White grapes | not specified | RASFF notification | Chlorpyrifos residues above the limit | Medium |
Featured alerts
Flower pollen Sądecki Bartnik (batch 7/4)
Hazard: Testing showed an exceedance of the maximum permissible level of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the flower pollen. Consumption of product contaminated with pyrrolizidine alkaloids at the detected level may pose a health risk to consumers. Potential effects: poisoning, liver damage and other toxic effects.
Store: not specified | EAN: 5900597012859 | Manufacturer: Gospodarstwo Pasieczne "Sądecki Bartnik" Sp. z o.o.
Apetilki Petit Beurre biscuits
Hazard: Tests showed a high level of acrylamide in Petit Beurre biscuits from specific batches, which according to NIPH PZH risk assessment poses a health risk to consumers. Potential effects: increased risk of harmful effects on the nervous system and carcinogenic effects with long-term exposure.
Store: not specified | EAN: not available | Manufacturer: Eurobrand Sp. z o.o.
Chicken breast cutlets (fresh fillet)
Hazard: Fresh chicken breast fillet cutlets were found to contain Salmonella group C2, detected as "present in 25 g" in 5 out of 5 samples, despite the zero-tolerance requirement for Salmonella in 25 g of the product. Potential effects: acute diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, dehydration, and in vulnerable individuals a risk of more severe infection.
Store: not specified | EAN: not available | Manufacturer: not specified
PROFUS protective gloves 10XL
Hazard: The gloves do not provide adequate abrasion protection and may easily tear, increasing the risk of hand injuries during work. Potential consequences: hand injuries, cuts, abrasions and other mechanical damage.
Store: not specified | EAN: 5905289461762 | Manufacturer: PROFUS
Health risk analysis
The exceedance of permissible pyrrolizidine alkaloid levels in pollen products (both the Sądecki Bartnik brand and the other RASFF-notified pollen) poses a significant toxic risk. According to EFSA scientific opinions, these compounds can damage the liver, and long-term exposure even to small doses is associated with an increased carcinogenic risk. For this reason, EU authorities and GIS apply very strict limits in the area of food safety.
In the case of Apetilki biscuits, the elevated acrylamide content formed during baking can, when consumed frequently, adversely affect the nervous system and increase cancer risk. EU Regulation 2017/2158 requires producers to reduce acrylamide levels in food. The presence of Salmonella in poultry cutlets is a classic microbiological hazard. This bacterium causes food poisoning with symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea and vomiting, and in children, the elderly and immunocompromised people it may lead to severe complications.
Chlorpyrifos detected in white grapes is a pesticide with neurotoxic effects, which is why EU law (Regulation 396/2005) sets a very low maximum residue level. Exceeding this limit, even with a single exposure, may cause headaches, nausea and weakness. Ineffective PROFUS protective gloves are not a food safety issue but represent a risk in the workplace – they increase the chance of mechanical hand injuries and therefore fail to meet the requirements for category II personal protective equipment.
Stores and institutions concerned
In the week under review, the notices mainly concerned products distributed widely without specific retail chains being named. This means that they could have been available in large supermarkets, smaller local shops and online sales channels. GIS alerts and RASFF notifications on pollen, biscuits, grapes and poultry meat directly affect food safety and may impact a broad group of consumers.
The Safety Gate notification regarding PROFUS gloves concerns personal protective equipment used in workplaces, warehouses or workshops. As UOKiK underlines, employers and distributors are obliged to replace such products with compliant protective equipment. Consumers who purchased the affected batches of withdrawn products should contact the place of purchase for information on returns or replacement.
Advice for consumers
People who have at home Apetilki biscuits from batches 10.05.2027.B or 20.05.2027.A, Sądecki Bartnik pollen (batch 7/4, best before 20.01.2028) or other pollen batches covered by notifications should stop consuming them. In line with GIS practice, these withdrawn products can usually be returned to the place of purchase, even without a receipt, and a refund obtained. By returning the products, consumers also support the food safety system by helping to remove as many units from the market as possible.
If potentially contaminated products have been eaten (for example meat containing Salmonella or grapes with chlorpyrifos), consumers should monitor their health. Symptoms such as acute diarrhoea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, dizziness or marked weakness require contact with a doctor or emergency department. It is helpful to inform medical staff about the suspected source of exposure. Parents should be particularly cautious with young children, and people with chronic diseases should monitor their condition especially carefully.
Legal context
The market surveillance system in Poland is based on cooperation between several institutions: GIS is responsible for food safety and nutrition, GIF for medicines and UOKiK for overall consumer protection and supervision of non-food products. GIS and GIF notices are complemented by UOKiK product warnings and by the EU RASFF (for food) and Safety Gate (for non-food products) systems, which enable rapid exchange of information between Member States.
Withdrawal of a product from the market is ordered when a significant risk to health or safety is identified, which is the case for some of the products described this week. In other situations, authorities issue notifications and market holds that serve as warnings. Under Polish consumer law, buyers have the right to return products that are unsafe or non-compliant with the contract and to receive full and reliable information about any risks. Regularly following sources such as GIS alerts and GIF notices is an important element of looking after one’s food safety and the health of the whole household.