The OLV company, manufacturer of so-called alcoholic beverage sachets or ‘alcotubes’ under the Voodoo Monkey brand, has informed the Polish Press Agency that it is withdrawing the entire batch of products from the market and stopping their production immediately. The decision came after pressure from government officials that warned it may affect children because of the misleading design of packing that resembled fruit mousse sachets. 

„We regret that the Voodoo Monkey product, despite being produced and labelled in accordance with current regulations, has evoked negative and unintended associations. As a result, OLV’s management has decided to immediately withdraw the entire batch of products from the market and stop production immediately. We apologise for the situation that has arisen,’ the company said in a statement. 

After the product was withdrawn from the market Polish agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski announced the ministry will work on news laws on alcohol branding to prevent any such situations in the future. 

„Our proposals… will have a regulatory influence on the preparation of food packaging, ensuring that consumers are not misled,” Minister Siekierski said.

The minister added that „the packaging and product information are included in the EU regulations and Polish laws, but require further clarification.”

The company that sold the sachets has decided to withdraw the product from the market and the decision „echoes the expectations of the public and the government,” mentioned the minister.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed the matter and called to „identify an effective approach to halt the alcohol sachets trade.”

Chief Sanitary Inspector Pawel Grzesiowski announced that inspectors would conduct audits of facilities involved in the production and sale of alcoholic sachets in order to tackle issues related to their misleading packaging.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced that the Agricultural Food Inspectorate would initiate inspections to ensure the accuracy of product labeling.

Photo: @ArkusMarkus

Source: PAP

Tomasz Modrzejewski