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Dear Evive Community,

It is with complete transparency that we announce the voluntary recall of our new Immunity smoothie for health & safety reasons due to the use of raw elderberry. This is a new ingredient that was included in this smoothie only, so please rest assured that no other Evive product is affected.

Firstly, we extend our deepest apologies to anyone who has had a negative experience or felt ill after consuming our Immunity Smoothie.

Our intention was to create for our community a new delicious and nutritious smoothie blend that would support the immune system. Elderberry is a superfood that is used in commercial food and beverages of all sorts and which use is permitted by food agencies. However, consuming raw elderberries may sometimes result in side effects that we had not foreseen, and for this reason, we have decided to voluntarily recall this flavour until further notice. Your health is, and will always be, our number one priority. 

We want to reaffirm that this recall is solely on the Immunity smoothie and that all of the other smoothie flavours and meals are safe to consume.

We understand and appreciate that as consumers, you may have questions as to how this voluntary recall came to be. We hope to answer all your questions to your satisfaction.

Dominic & Claudia 

Q & A

I have the Immunity smoothies in my freezer, what should I do?

Please DO NOT consume this product and dispose of it right away.

Why did we decide to recall the Immunity Smoothie?

The Immunity Smoothie is being recalled due to the use of raw elderberries in the formulation. 

Elderberry, due to its nutritional property, was chosen as a superfood ingredient in this particular smoothie recipe. 

Raw elderberries contain cyanogenic glycosides, a naturally occurring molecule, also found in apricot seeds and almonds, that release hydrogen cyanide when chewed or digested. In small quantities, the human body can eliminate small amounts of cyanide, which is why most people have no issue digesting such fruits and nuts. However, raw elderberries may contain a higher level of this molecule.

What symptoms have customers experienced?

Some of our customers expressed experiencing temporary negative side effects, such as digestive issues (indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) after having consumed the Immunity smoothie. None of our customers have reported the severe effects of cyanide poisoning.

What has Evive done so far?

Our team acted on the consumer feedback immediately investigating and initiating a voluntary recall process with the CFIA and have worked closely with the department to elaborate our plan of action. The Immunity smoothie was only available through our website, which means we were able to notify all consumers who purchased the product and asked them to dispose of any Immunity smoothies and offered credit for their Immunity purchase.

What about the other Evive products?

All other Evive products are safe to consume. This situation is limited to the Immunity smoothie, as it was caused by raw elderberries, which are not found in any other product. 

The investigation being conducted by the CFIA on other Evive products is customary following a product recall, but Evive is confident that all of its other products are completely safe for consumption.

What is being done?

We have voluntarily recalled the product and are adding additional measures to our R&D and Q&A procedures. We are working closely with the CFIA and following the legal guidelines to ensure we address the situation correctly.

What are the quality and food safety processes we have in place?

  • All of our current and new suppliers are vetted through an extensive process with a strict list of quality and safety criterias;
  • We require certificates of analysis (COA) for all our ingredients;
  • All new ingredients and new products are sent to external laboratories for microbiological analysis before being used in product formulation;
  • We regularly send our finished products to an external laboratory for microbiological analysis;
  • Our manufacturing sites are SQF/HACCP certified (Food Safety Programs).

What have we learned and what will we implement?

  • We will increase the level of information we are asking from all new and existing suppliers;
  • Every new ingredient will go through a research and risk assessment by an external certified health professional;
  • We will review and improve our procedures for our quality trials, product commercialization evaluation and validation.

On behalf of everyone at Evive, we apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused. We thank you for your understanding and support as we work hard to continue rectifying the situation. 

Please do not hesitate to contact our devoted customer care team should you have any other questions or concerns. – [email protected]

Dominic & Claudia 

STATEMENT FROM THE QUEBEC POISON CONTROL CENTRE:

The Quebec Poison Control Centre has noted an increase in the number of calls from consumers concerned by the recall notice issued on Friday, January 21, 2022, concerning Evive Nutrition brand “Super Functional Immunity Smoothie” due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in the product.
 
We would like to reassure people who have consumed the product in moderation: if you have not had or no longer have signs and symptoms of intoxication (nausea, vomiting or abdominal discomfort), there is no need to worry.
 
However, if you experience any of the symptoms described above, or have any specific medical conditions or unresolved concerns, your first step should be to contact your local poison control center at 1-800-463-5060 where toxicology professionals will assess the risk and guide you.
Last Updated: January 26, 2022

MEDIA CONTACT

Marika Mousseau
778-951-7564
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