11 GIS alerts and GIF notices - weekly overview

Wprowadzenie

In the period 17.08.2026 - 23.08.2026, supervisory authorities published 11 alerts concerning food safety, medicines and other products in Poland. According to notices from GIS (Chief Sanitary Inspectorate), GIF (Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate) and the EU RASFF and Safety Gate systems, serious problems were identified, including dangerous listeria in cheese and pork in aspic, Bacillus cereus and its toxin in a dairy dessert and infant formula, Salmonella in poultry, excessive cadmium levels in seafood, metal particles in a multiple sclerosis medicine, and a defective 2000 kg scissor jack.

GIS alerts focus mainly on food safety, while GIF notices relate to the quality and safety of medicines. As UOKiK (Office of Competition and Consumer Protection) explains, some information about dangerous consumer products (such as the scissor jack) reaches Poland through the EU Safety Gate system. This week, special attention should be paid to the withdrawal of cheeses and meat products due to Listeria monocytogenes, as well as warnings regarding infant formula.

W skrócie

• 11 new alerts: 6 product withdrawals from the market and 5 notices/information notifications.
• Critical hazards: listeria in "Ser gałka z Zakopanego" cheese and "Wieprzowina w galarecie GWAREK" pork in aspic, Bacillus cereus in Pilos High Protein Pudding dessert and cereulidin toxin in NAN OPTIpro 1 infant formula.
• GIF issued notices concerning the medicines Fingolimod Zentiva 0.5 mg and the thyme syrup Ziołowa Tradycja due to quality non-compliance.
• RASFF reported, among others, Salmonella Enteritidis in chicken breast fillet and excessive cadmium levels in Patagonian squid.
• UOKiK and Safety Gate published a warning about a dangerous 2000 kg scissor jack whose handle may break during use.

GIS warns against consuming products from the batches indicated in the notices due to the risk of severe food poisoning.

GIF emphasises that batches of medicines covered by its decisions should no longer be used by patients.

Wycofania z obrotu

Komunikaty i wstrzymania

Wyróżnione komunikaty

Pilos High Protein chocolate pudding, 200 g (Lidl)

Hazard: GIS reports the presence of Bacillus cereus in this dessert, which can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. The risk of a severe course is highest for people with weakened immunity, children and older adults. All packs with the best-before date 14.09.2026 are covered by the measures.

Store: Lidl Polska | EAN: n/a | Manufacturer: Fude + Serrahn Milchprodukte GmbH & Co. KG

Gałka cheese from Zakopane 280 g, batch 07286 (Carrefour)

Hazard: According to GIS, Listeria monocytogenes was detected in this rennet cheese. The bacterium can cause severe listeriosis, particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised people. The affected batch 07286 (use-by date 25.09.2026, EAN 5905784304458) should not be consumed or given to children.

Store: Carrefour | EAN: 5905784304458 | Manufacturer: PPHU Balser Marian Górz, Wróblówka 102B, 34-408 Czarny Dunajec

NAN OPTIpro 1, 650 g – batches L-53430346BA, L-53440346BA

Hazard: One production batch of this infant formula was found to contain cereulidin, a toxin associated with Bacillus cereus. GIS highlights the potential toxic effects with long-term consumption and possible gastrointestinal discomfort. Since infants are an especially vulnerable group, the entire batches L-53430346BA and L-53440346BA (best-before 06.2027) are subject to precautionary measures.

Store: n/a | EAN: n/a | Manufacturer: Nestlé Polska S.A.

Fingolimod Zentiva 0.5 mg, hard capsules, batch 4L01372M

Hazard: As GIF reports, batch 4L01372M failed quality specifications due to excessive numbers of metal particles. The presence of such particles makes it impossible to confirm the safety of continued use of this multiple sclerosis medicine. Potential effects include irritation, tissue damage and even thrombotic complications, especially during long-term therapy.

Store: not applicable (medicinal product) | EAN (GTIN): 05909991461157 | Manufacturer: Zentiva, k.s.

Scissor jack 2000 kg, batch ZT-212

Hazard: The Safety Gate notification, relayed in Poland by UOKiK, concerns the risk of the jack handle breaking while lifting a vehicle. This may cause the car or load to drop suddenly, loss of stability of the equipment and serious injuries to the user or bystanders. The product is designed for vehicles up to 2000 kg, which makes this hazard particularly significant.

Store: n/a | EAN: n/a | Manufacturer: n/a

Analiza zagrożeń zdrowotnych

Most of this week’s GIS alerts relate to food safety and microbiological contamination. Listeria monocytogenes detected in Gałka cheese from Zakopane and in GWAREK pork in aspic is particularly dangerous because it can grow even at refrigerator temperatures. Listeriosis manifests with fever, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, and in pregnant women may lead to miscarriage or infection of the newborn.

Bacillus cereus and its toxin cereulidin, mentioned in GIS alerts on the Pilos dessert and NAN OPTIpro 1 formula, are classic causes of food poisoning with vomiting and diarrhoea. The toxin is heat resistant, so thermal processing does not always remove the risk. Infants, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses are especially vulnerable.

Salmonella Enteritidis in fresh chicken breast fillet, reported through RASFF, is a common source of acute foodborne infection. Symptoms include severe diarrhoea, fever, chills, nausea and dehydration. Under EU law there is a zero-tolerance requirement for salmonella in 25 g of poultry meat, so any detection triggers an official notification.

The GIF notices on medicines highlight different types of risk. Metal particles in Fingolimod Zentiva may theoretically cause tissue damage, inflammatory reactions or clotting disorders, particularly in long-term treatment. In contrast, the too-low thymol content in Ziołowa Tradycja thyme syrup does not pose an immediate life-threatening danger but reduces cough treatment effectiveness, which may prolong infections in vulnerable patients.

Excess cadmium in Patagonian squid increases the risk of chronic kidney damage and bone disorders. The yohimbine-containing supplement may raise blood pressure, cause palpitations and anxiety, and is generally not recommended for people with cardiovascular disease. Consumers should therefore treat all such notices as practical tools for managing everyday risk.

Sklepy i instytucje objęte komunikatami

Among the main retailers affected by this week’s alerts are Lidl and Carrefour, which are removing own-brand and supplier products from sale. Lidl distributed the Pilos High Protein Pudding dessert, while Carrefour sold the Gałka cheese from Zakopane. In both cases, GIS notices and swift retailer action aim to remove the affected batches from shelves as quickly as possible.

Several cases concern products without a specific retailer indicated – this applies to NAN OPTIpro 1 and GWAREK pork in aspic, which may be available in various chains and local shops. Consumers should therefore check batch numbers and expiry dates carefully. For medicines, GIF directs its decisions to wholesalers, pharmacies and marketing authorisation holders. UOKiK, in cooperation with the Safety Gate system, coordinates actions regarding dangerous non-food consumer products such as the scissor jack.

Porady dla konsumentów

If you might have any of the products mentioned in these notices at home, first check the product name, batch number, best-before or use-by date and any EAN codes. If your product matches one of the items covered by the measures, do not consume or use it. This is particularly important for high-risk foods such as listeria-contaminated cheese, meat products or infant formula.

Products subject to withdrawal can usually be returned to the place of purchase. Supermarkets like Lidl and Carrefour state that you are entitled to a refund even without a receipt, as the GIS notice itself is sufficient proof. For medicines covered by GIF decisions, patients should consult their doctor or pharmacist to find a safe alternative therapy and return packs to the pharmacy.

If you suspect that you have consumed a product from an affected batch (for example contaminated cheese, meat with salmonella or dessert with Bacillus cereus) and develop symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain or neurological signs, contact a doctor immediately. In infants, older people and those with chronic diseases, any deterioration should be treated particularly seriously. Official alerts published by GIS, GIF and UOKiK are updated regularly – following them is an effective way to reduce everyday exposure to unsafe food and other products.

Kontekst prawny

The supervision system for product safety in Poland is based on both national and EU law. In the field of food safety, the key act is Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, which sets out the general principles of food law, including the precautionary principle and the obligation to remove products from the market whenever they may be harmful to health. GIS acts as the national contact point for the RASFF system and issues public alerts to consumers and businesses.

For medicinal products, the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate issues notices and decisions such as suspension, marketing prohibition or removal of specific batches when they do not meet quality, safety or efficacy requirements laid down in pharmaceutical law. UOKiK is responsible for consumer protection in relation to non-food products, working closely with the EU Safety Gate system. Consumers have the right to full information about risks, to return unsafe goods and to claim compensation from retailers or manufacturers if they suffer damage as a result of using a dangerous product.