FSA Press Release, 15 November 2002

RECALL - Product Recall of Cotswold Spring Natural Mineral Water and Aquaid Cotswold Natural Mineral Water

Category D: For information only

Heads of Environmental Health Services and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware of a product recall by J H Marshall (Thornbury) Ltd of some of its bottled water products, because of bacterial contamination. The Company is issuing a press release today (see below) and a product recall notice which should appear in the media.

Press release issued by J H Marshall (Thornbury) Ltd

"PRODUCT RECALL
Cotswold Spring Natural Mineral Water
Aquaid Cotswold Natural Mineral Water

As a precaution, JH Marshall (Thornbury) Ltd is recalling some of its bottled water products. The product recall is being undertaken on the advice of the Food Standards Agency, which considers that the water may pose a health risk to some members of the public.

The following brands are affected by this recall:

• Cotswold Spring Natural Mineral Water
  
• Aquaid Cotswold Natural Mineral Water

The specific products are those with best before dates on the bottle cap of between 18/09/03 and 28/10/03. The bottles are both glass and plastic, of sizes between 330ml and 5 litres. Both still and sparkling water are being recalled.

This recall only affects these bottled waters, sold in shops. Water cooler bottles sold to businesses under these brand names are not affected.

Customers are asked not to consume affected product and to return all bottles to the place of purchase for a refund. For more information contact the Customer Advice Line on 01454 313681.

The company apologises to its customers for any inconvenience caused by the withdrawal of this product.

The following additional notes are provided:

• JH Marshall (Thornbury) Ltd produces the Cotswold Spring and Aquaid Cotswold brands and is a small regional bottler.
• Cotswold Spring is outside the top 25 bottled water brands in the UK and had a market share of 0.6% in 2001 (Source: Zenith International). Distribution is focused on the West Country, London and the West Midlands. A small amount of product is also sold in Manchester.
• Aquaid Cotswold Natural Mineral Water in bottles (330ml - 5 litre) has only minor distribution and in East Anglia only.
• The company would like to re-iterate that water cooler bottles sold to businesses under these brand names are not affected.
• JH Marshall (Thornbury) Ltd has been bottling water for 16 years, during which time it has had an exemplary record of delivering high quality bottled water to its customers.