Introduction
During the period 24.08.2026 - 30.08.2026 the supervisory authorities published 11 alerts concerning food safety, food supplements and medicines in Poland. The most serious GIS alerts related to suspected botulinum toxin in Łowicz green pesto and the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in pork sausages from ham sold in Carrefour stores. The Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate (GIF) issued further notices regarding the antidepressant Dutilox, in which the limit for the impurity N-nitroso-duloxetine was exceeded.
According to GIS alerts and Safety Gate notifications, some batches were removed from sale as recalled products, while others were stopped at the border or made subject to additional restrictions. Several cases also highlight the issue of unauthorised novel food ingredients in creatine-based supplements, which is important for the long term safety of food on the market. Below we present a detailed overview of GIS alerts, GIF notices and EU system notifications, together with practical advice for consumers.
Najważniejsze informacje
- 11 alerts in a single week: 7 market withdrawals and 4 additional notices or holds.
- Two critical GIS alerts concern Łowicz green pesto with possible botulinum toxin, including batch L605192FE.
- Pork sausages from ham 300 g sold as Carrefour Classic and under the Stanisławów brand were affected by Listeria monocytogenes.
- GIF published safety notices on Dutilox 30 mg and 60 mg due to contamination with a nitrosamine impurity of potential carcinogenic effect.
- Creatine supplements containing creatine malate and tricreatine malate were questioned as unauthorised novel foods, raising doubts about the safety of long term supplementation.
Wycofania z obrotu
| Product | Store | Decision type | Hazard | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pesto alla Genovese Łowicz 180 g, batch L605192FE | Carrefour | GIS alert / Carrefour | Possible botulinum toxin in one batch | Critical |
| Pesto alla Genovese green basil sauce Łowicz, batch L 605192FE I | n/a | GIS alert | Detection of gene linked to botulinum toxin | Critical |
| Pork sausages from ham Carrefour Classic 300 g, batch 010920226 | Carrefour | GIS alert / Carrefour | Listeria monocytogenes in sausages | Critical |
| Pork sausages from ham 300 g, EAN 5905784362168, batch 01920226 | Carrefour | Store notice | Microbiological non compliance, Listeria monocytogenes | Critical |
| Creatine Xplode Powder, various flavours and sizes | Auchan and others | GIS alert | Uncertain status of creatine malate as novel food | Medium |
| Creatine food supplement with tricreatine malate | n/a | Safety Gate notification | Unauthorised novel food, tricreatine malate | Medium |
| TREC Nutrition CM3 and 6PAK CrM3 supplements | Auchan and others | GIS alert | Unauthorised tricreatine malate in composition | Medium |
Komunikaty i wstrzymania
| Product | Store | Decision type | Hazard | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen raspberries, batch rejected at border | n/a | Safety Gate notification | Perchlorates above the legal limit | Medium |
| Dutilox 30 mg, gastro resistant capsules | n/a | Withdrawal from market, Marketing prohibition | Exceedance of N-nitroso-duloxetine impurity limit | Critical |
| Dutilox 60 mg, gastro resistant capsules | n/a | Withdrawal from market, Marketing prohibition | Exceedance of N-nitroso-duloxetine limit during shelf life | High |
| Frozen blueberries, batch rejected at border | n/a | Safety Gate notification | Border rejection, details not specified | Low |
Wyróżnione komunikaty
Pesto alla Genovese green basil sauce Łowicz
Hazard: According to the GIS notice of 28 August 2026, batch L605192FE of Łowicz pesto showed the presence of the ntnh gene associated with botulinum toxin. Consumption may lead to botulism, with symptoms such as double vision, muscle weakness, swallowing and breathing difficulties and, in severe cases, death.
Store: Carrefour and other chains | EAN: not available | Manufacturer: Łowicz / MW FOOD Sp. z o.o.
Pork sausages from ham Carrefour Classic 300 g
Hazard: Proprietary testing by Zakłady Mięsne Stanisławów confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in batch 010920226 of Carrefour Classic pork sausages from ham. Listeria can cause severe infection, especially in pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised people, leading to fever, diarrhoea and even sepsis or miscarriage.
Store: Carrefour | EAN: not available | Manufacturer: Zakłady Mięsne STANISŁAWÓW sp. z o.o.
Pork sausages from ham 300 g, EAN 5905784362168
Hazard: A separate GIS alert reports microbiological non compliance in batch 01920226 of 300 g pork sausages from ham produced by Zakłady Mięsne Stanisławów. Listeria monocytogenes was detected, meaning the product should not be eaten, even after heat treatment.
Store: Carrefour | EAN: 5905784362168 | Manufacturer: Zakłady Mięsne Stanisławów
Dutilox 30 mg, gastro resistant capsules
Hazard: As reported by GIF, the antidepressant Dutilox 30 mg shows serious exceedances of the transitional LTL limit for the impurity N-nitroso-duloxetine during the declared shelf life. This substance belongs to the group of nitrosamines, which with long term exposure may increase the risk of cancer.
Store: not applicable, medicinal product | EAN: 05909991249540 | Manufacturer: Farmak International Sp. z o.o.
Creatine Xplode Powder food supplement
Hazard: The GIS alert states that Creatine Xplode Powder contains creatine malate, whose regulatory status as a novel food is still under verification by the sanitary authorities. The lack of comprehensive safety data for long term intake of this creatine form means uncertain health risks, especially at high doses.
Store: Auchan and specialist shops | EAN: 5901330079306, 5901330079313, 5901330079290, 5901330055218, 5901330055171, 5901330055850 | Manufacturer: Olimp Laboratories Sp. z o.o.
Analiza zagrożeń zdrowotnych
The alerts from this week illustrate how diverse health risks can be. The most serious involves suspected botulinum toxin in Łowicz green pesto. Botulinum toxin is one of the most powerful poisons known; even a tiny amount can cause neuromuscular paralysis leading to respiratory failure. In practice this means that any symptoms after consuming the affected pesto require immediate hospital assessment.
Another key hazard is Listeria monocytogenes found in pork sausages from ham. This bacterium grows even at refrigeration temperatures, so ready to eat chilled products are particularly risky. Listeriosis may range from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to severe systemic infection and meningitis. In pregnant women it can cause miscarriage or serious complications in the newborn.
Chemical hazards also play a role. Perchlorates detected in frozen raspberries above the permitted level may interfere with thyroid function, which is particularly dangerous for children, pregnant women and people with thyroid disease. In medicines, contamination of Dutilox with the nitrosamine N-nitroso-duloxetine raises the theoretical risk of cancer with chronic use, which is why GIF ordered a withdrawal from the market and marketing prohibition. Finally, the presence of unauthorised creatine forms in supplements reveals gaps in knowledge about the long term safety of functional foods.
GIS urges consumers not to eat products from the affected batches, even if they look and smell normal.
Sklepy i instytucje objęte komunikatami
During the week, both public authorities and retail chains played a key role in informing the public about risks. Carrefour was named in three critical GIS alerts covering pork sausages from ham and Łowicz pesto. Auchan appeared in notices related to Creatine Xplode Powder and the TREC Nutrition CM3 and 6PAK CrM3 supplements containing unauthorised forms of creatine.
The Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS) was responsible for national food safety alerts and supplement related notices, while the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate (GIF) issued communications on medicines such as Dutilox. Part of the information came from the EU Safety Gate system, which monitors food safety across the Union and reports border rejections. Consumers should monitor both national warnings from UOKiK and GIS and the notices issued directly by retail chains, which manage product returns.
Porady dla konsumentów
If you have any of the products described at home, first check the name, batch number, minimum durability date and, where available, the EAN code on the packaging. If these match the details given in a GIS alert, treat the product as potentially unsafe. Do not taste it or try additional cooking in the hope of removing the hazard; this applies in particular to products at risk of botulinum toxin and Listeria monocytogenes.
Recalled products can normally be returned to the place of purchase without a receipt, on the basis of the official store notice or GIS alert. As UOKiK points out, consumers are entitled to a refund or replacement with a safe equivalent. For medicines covered by GIF notices, patients should contact their doctor or pharmacist to agree on further treatment and possible substitution.
If you have already consumed a product from an affected batch and experience worrying symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, visual disturbances, muscle weakness or neurological signs, seek medical help immediately or call the emergency number 112. Keep the product packaging to help identify the batch. If you are unsure about other products in the same category, consider limiting consumption until GIS clarifies the situation.
Kontekst prawny
The process of publishing GIS alerts, GIF notices and UOKiK warnings is based on national and EU law, in particular Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, which lays down the general principles of food law and the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, now known as Safety Gate. Food business operators are obliged to notify the authorities without delay of any non compliance and to withdraw from the market products that present a risk to health.
Consumers in Poland benefit from strong legal protection. Under the Consumer Rights Act and the Civil Code they may pursue claims for non conformity of goods as well as compensation in case of health damage. UOKiK supervises respect for these rights and can fine businesses that fail to meet their information obligations. Understanding how the alert system works and following official communications improves real food safety and medicine safety in everyday life.