Regarding the numerous media reports on the withdrawal of our products, and in the interest of truthful and objective reporting, we address the public and our valued customers:
The presence of the pesticide ethylene oxide was not detected in any Kudelić d.o.o. product.
An independent food testing laboratory specialising in pesticide testing in Hamburg, Germany, detected no pesticides in any of the Kudelić d.o.o. products submitted for analysis.
Between 03.08. and 06.08.2021., Kudelić d.o.o. was inspected by the State Inspectorate’s Veterinary Inspection Service. However, during the inspection, which lasted as long as 3 days, not a single sample was taken for analysis from any finished product, raw material, spice or additive used in the manufacture of our products. Nor was any laboratory analysis performed to establish the facts objectively.
On 06.08.2021., a verbal decision ordered us to stop selling and withdraw certain products. Respecting the authority and instructions of the competent body, we cooperated fully and complied with the order. The public was informed of all this, and numerous media outlets reported on it.
A laboratory in Hamburg, Germany, established that Kudelić d.o.o. products contained no ethylene oxide pesticide whatsoever, not even in the smallest traces.
On 17.08.2021., we submitted samples of the products that the inspection had ordered withdrawn from the market to an independent laboratory, which analysed them for the presence of pesticides. This laboratory in Hamburg found no ethylene oxide pesticide in our products, not even in the smallest traces. This unequivocally demonstrated that the claim that our products did not comply with the European regulation on maximum pesticide residue levels in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin was incorrect. The analysis results are available on request.
We guarantee all our customers the highest level of quality and safety of our products. We continuously carry out numerous checks. In addition, an authorised veterinarian from an authorised inspection body is present at our production facility every day.
We are truly very saddened that some of our customers may be confused by this action and that their confidence in the quality and safety of our products may have been called into question. We will therefore take every available action to restore our customers’ trust and remedy the enormous damage done to the Kudelić brand as a whole. Please be assured that the quality and safety of all raw materials and finished products are our highest priority. We will do everything we can to avoid disappointing any customer and to demonstrate this commitment.