Ribena concentrate products withdrawn in Singapore after similar move in Malaysia

SINGAPORE — Four types of Ribena concentrate products have been withdrawn from shelves in Singapore, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said on Tuesday (Aug 15), following a similar recall of the popular drink in Malaysia.

Ribena’s ready-to-drink products, such as the packet drinks, are not affected by the recall and are still available for purchase.

According to the AVA, a faulty bottling machine, which allowed air to enter random bottles, was discovered during a routine check by Suntory, the Japanese brewing and distilling company group that owns Ribena. This could cause the affected bottles to spoil before the stated expiry date.

(The Ribena concentrate products affected by the recall in Singapore. Photo: AVA)

The affected Ribena products, all concentrates bottled in Malaysia, are: Blackcurrant & Strawberry, Blackcurrant & Apple, Blackcurrant & Glucose, and Blackcurrant. All pack sizes of the four types of concentrate — due to expire between February and June next year — are affected. 

Major supermarkets said all affected Ribena products have been pulled from their shelves, but were unable to provide figures on how many bottles of the concentrate were withdrawn.

An NTUC FairPrice spokesperson said all affected products have been removed from FairPrice supermarkets and Cheers convenience stores. “Customers who have purchased the affected products can request for a full refund at any NTUC FairPrice or Cheers store,” she added.

Similarly, a Sheng Siong spokesperson said affected customers “may bring back the product with the proof of purchase for a refund”.

Dairy Farm has also removed the affected products from Cold Storage and Giant supermarkets, a spokesperson told TODAY.

News of a recall of Ribena products first emerged in Malaysia on Monday. Mr Lee Hon Tong, Suntory’s regional general manager for Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore, said in an earlier statement that it decided to withdraw the products from retailers, warehouse and distributors in order not to compromise the quality of the products. “Although not every bottle is affected, consumers are advised to not drink the beverage if it appears unusual, tastes, or smells sour,” he said.