Health « Thurles Information

FSAI Recall Batch Of Dairy Farm Vanilla Ice Cream.

FSAI recall a batch of Dairy Farm Vanilla Ice Cream due to chemical smell and taste from the product.

Alert Summary dated Friday, April 4th 2025.

Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2025.17
Product Identification: Dairy Farm Vanilla Ice Cream tub; pack size: 1 litre; approval number: IE 1065 EC
Batch Code: L24356B; best before date: June 2026
Country Of Origin: Ireland

Message: The above batch of Dairy Farm Vanilla Ice Cream is being recalled due to some customers experiencing a chemical smell and/or taste from the product.
Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in Lidl stores.

Action Required:
Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch.

Note: At the best of times, according to the independent YUKA App. the above product, when scanned by Thurles.Info, contains Mono-and diglycerides of fatty acids, latter a high risk texturizing agent which provides consistency, maintains or modifies the texture of this product.
This additive we are informed, could in cases of high consumption, increase the risk of developing cancers and cardiovascular diseases. It is also suspected of disrupting gut flora , which could lead to an increased risk of autoimmune and allergic diseases, as well as inflammatory diseases.

This product also contains Locust bean gum; Guar gum and E415. These additives/texturizing agents used as emulsifiers are believed to also alter gut microbiota. A recent Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) study, [latter the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research], found that such emulsifiers may be associated with the development of breast cancer. However, it is also accepted that further studies are required with regards to this latter claim.

Now comes the questions:
(1) With this research knowledge readily available; why are Irish manufacturers allowed to use these additives/texturizing agents in such products?
(2) Why are Shops/Supermarkets continuing to sell such products?
(3) Could the removal of such additives/texturizing agents from our food, reduce hospital overcrowding and patient waiting time for beds?

We have forwarded these three questions to the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Mr Martin Heydon TD. (martin.heydon@oir.ie) and to the Minister for Health, Ms Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie); seeking early replies.

Recall Of Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Almond Sea Salt.

Recall Of Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Almond Sea Salt Due To Presence Of Small Stones.

Alert Summary dated Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025.

Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2025.16
Product Identification: Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Almond Sea Salt; pack size: 180g
Batch Code: 162633 and 162614; best before date: 28/02/2026
Country Of Origin: Belgium.

Message: The above batches of Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Almond Sea Salt are being recalled due to the possible presence of small stones. Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores.

Action Required: Wholesalers, distributors, caterers and retailers.

Wholesalers/Distributors: Same are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated batches and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retail customers.

Caterers/Retailers: Same are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.

Consumers: Same are advised not to eat the implicated batches.

FSAI Warn Of Soya & Milk In Ruffles Sabor a Jamon crisps.

Alert Summary dated Friday, March 28th 2025.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2025.A11.
Allergens: Soybeans, Milk.
Product Identification: Ruffles Sabor a Jamón; pack size: 150g.
Batch Code: All batches with no English labelling.
Country Of Origin: USA.

Message: The ingredients in Ruffles Sabor a Jamón crisps are not labelled in English. The implicated crisps contain soya and milk. This may make the crisps unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of soya and/or milk and therefore, these consumers should not eat the implicated crisps.

Cost Of Hidden Stress.

Reminder – This evening’s FREE Mná Month event at Cashel Library.

When The Body Says No – The Cost of Hidden Stress.

Presented By Dr Sabine Eggers, this evening Wednesday 26th March, starting at 6.30pm.
All are Welcome.

Visitors attending events can locate the Cashel Library building; situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (G487+RX).

Review Of Legislation Criminalising Purchase Of Sex Completed.

Cabinet approval secured to publish review of legislation that made it illegal to purchase sex but legal to sell sex.
Review highlights challenges facing An Garda Síochána and DPP in enforcing this legislation.

Cabinet approval has been secured to publish a review of the legislation that deals with the purchase of sexual services.

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 decriminalised the sale of sex, criminalised the purchase of sex, and increased the penalty provided for brothel keeping. The legislation was designed to shift the legal burden towards those who buy sex rather than the sellers, aiming to protect those most at risk within the sex industry.

The Review of the Operation of Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993, identifies areas for improvement which would allow the legislation to work better and achieve its aim of deterring the demand for commercial sex, which is linked to both sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Here in Ireland, it is legal to sell sex, but illegal to purchase sex. This means that individuals involved in the sale of sex are no longer criminalised.
Prostitution is inherently exploitative of vulnerable persons, mainly women and girls, and many people are forced into prostitution, through trafficking, drug addiction, homelessness and poverty.

This Review has been much anticipated by stakeholders in the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) sector and others, and is published today.

Among its findings, this review highlights challenges to the effective enforcement of the legislation in its current form, with An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions noting significant barriers. These include limited power of arrest for detention and questioning, the requirement of an admission of guilt and challenges in prosecution, due to the necessary ‘proofs’ required.

It also finds that the ability to successfully support and protect is hindered by a lack of culturally appropriate support services, including healthcare, social welfare, gender specific housing for women, and clear exit routes.

This review also notes that the prevalence of human trafficking among those involved in the sale of sex in Ireland is not fully known and the lack of reliable data is cited by both advocates for and opponents of section 7A.

The key focus on this issue is to seek to reduce demand, protect those involved in the sex trade, and support those who wish to exit.

The Review highlights that despite the criminalisation of the purchase of sexual services, demand has not decreased. The Review also points to recommendations to address this through awareness-raising; these are mirrored in the Programme for Government and the Zero Tolerance Strategy.

Certain recommendations will be considered in respect of law enforcement, and officials are consulting with An Garda Síochána, in this regard.

According to An Garda Síochána, the DPP had directed 161 prosecutions for the offence of ‘Payment etc. for Sexual Activity with a Prostitute’, from January 2017 up to August 2024.
Over that period, our police service recorded 15 convictions under this legislation.

This report is now available HERE