A Polish company has said it is halting production of alcoholic products packaged in soft, colorful pouches resembling children’s fruit purees after a public backlash and a rebuke from the prime minister.
OLV, the company behind the controversial beverages, announced a full product recall, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The decision follows widespread criticism and concerns that the pouches could be easily mistaken for children’s snacks.
“This raises legitimate emotions. This case may affect the safety and health of our children,” he said on Tuesday.
“I have put all officials on alert to find effective methods to counteract this practice,” Tusk added in a recording published on X.
“The minister of health will prepare a law for the future that will systematically eliminate such threats.”
Tusk added: “There is no room for any negotiations—this type of threat must disappear. And those who allowed this to happen can certainly expect consequences.”
The company behind the pouches said: “We regret that the Voodoo Monkey product, although produced and labeled in compliance with applicable regulations, has evoked negative and unintended connotations.
“In response to this situation, the OLV board has made the decision to promptly withdraw all products from the market and halt production. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
The money.pl website spoke to Andrzej Gajowniczek, president of the Real company, which specializes in processing vegetables and fruits.
In 2020, Real established the firm Owolovo, which produces fruit mousses and smoothies. The company’s name was later changed to OLV. He defended the introduction of “alco-tubes.”.
“We do not disregard the storm that was started by our competitors who are afraid of us. We are not guilty. No one took into account that it [would be perceived as] a product for children,” Gajowniczek said.
“We are not breaking the law, and yet we have been targeted, which is unfair. We did not consider for a moment that it was a product for children. Children can also mistakenly drink shampoo, ketchup, or mustard, as well as chemicals packed in sachets,” he added.
The decision follows widespread criticism and concerns that the pouches could be easily mistaken for children’s snacks.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighted allegations that the product was being marketed to youngsters.Spółka OLV, producent tzw. saszetek z napojami alkoholowymi pod marką Voodoo Monkey, poinformowała PAP, że wycofuje całą partię produktów z rynku i natychmiast wstrzymuje ich produkcję. pic.twitter.com/tLI8OPKDJ2
— Ewa Szymanowska (@EwaeSZet) October 1, 2024
“This raises legitimate emotions. This case may affect the safety and health of our children,” he said on Tuesday.
“I have put all officials on alert to find effective methods to counteract this practice,” Tusk added in a recording published on X.
“The minister of health will prepare a law for the future that will systematically eliminate such threats.”
‘This type of threat must disappear’
Tusk added: “There is no room for any negotiations—this type of threat must disappear. And those who allowed this to happen can certainly expect consequences.”
The company behind the pouches said: “We regret that the Voodoo Monkey product, although produced and labeled in compliance with applicable regulations, has evoked negative and unintended connotations.
“In response to this situation, the OLV board has made the decision to promptly withdraw all products from the market and halt production. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Storm ‘started by competitors’
The money.pl website spoke to Andrzej Gajowniczek, president of the Real company, which specializes in processing vegetables and fruits.
In 2020, Real established the firm Owolovo, which produces fruit mousses and smoothies. The company’s name was later changed to OLV. He defended the introduction of “alco-tubes.”.
“We do not disregard the storm that was started by our competitors who are afraid of us. We are not guilty. No one took into account that it [would be perceived as] a product for children,” Gajowniczek said.
“We are not breaking the law, and yet we have been targeted, which is unfair. We did not consider for a moment that it was a product for children. Children can also mistakenly drink shampoo, ketchup, or mustard, as well as chemicals packed in sachets,” he added.
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