Foodstuffs New Zealand has issued a nationwide recall for several Pams and Market Kitchen brand cooking sauces due to a manufacturing fault that may leave glass fragments in the product. The recall affects specific batches of sauce sold at New World, Pak’nSave, and Four Square stores across the country, according to an official notice from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Which products are affected?
The recall applies to a range of cooking sauces produced for Pams and Market Kitchen. Consumers are advised to check the labels of any sauce jars purchased recently. The affected products include:
- Pams brand: Butter Chicken, Korma, Tikka Masala, Rogan Josh, and Madras cooking sauces (500g jars).
- Market Kitchen brand: Butter Chicken, Korma, and Tikka Masala cooking sauces (500g jars).
Only products with a "Best Before" date of July 2026 are included in the recall. According to the MPI, shoppers should look for the batch code information printed on the lid or neck of the jar.
Why is the recall happening?
The recall was initiated after a packaging defect was identified during the production process. Foodstuffs New Zealand confirmed the issue involves a faulty glass jar that could potentially break or release glass particles into the sauce. Ingesting glass can cause serious internal injury, making this a high-priority safety concern for the manufacturer. No illnesses or injuries had been reported to the company as of the latest update.
What should consumers do?
If you have purchased one of the affected products, do not consume it. Foodstuffs New Zealand advises customers to return the item to the point of purchase for a full refund. You do not need to provide a receipt to receive your money back.
If you have already consumed a portion of the sauce or have concerns regarding potential ingestion of glass, you should contact your healthcare provider or call Healthline at 0800 611 116.
Comparison: Recall Scope and Safety
This incident follows a broader trend of increased vigilance in the New Zealand food supply chain. While recalls for foreign objects like glass or plastic are relatively rare compared to bacterial contamination recalls (such as Listeria or Salmonella), they are treated with equal urgency by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Unlike chemical or microbiological recalls, which often require extensive laboratory testing to confirm, a physical hazard like a glass fault is usually identified through quality assurance logs or consumer complaints at the retail level. By pulling the entire batch from shelves, the retailer prevents potential harm before it reaches the consumer.
For further inquiries, consumers can contact the Foodstuffs customer service team directly or visit the MPI food recall website for the most recent list of affected batch numbers.