Urgent Maxima Recall: Frozen Meat Pancakes Withdrawn Over BSE Risk

The Baltic retail giant Maxima has issued an emergency recall for a specific line of frozen pancakes across its Lithuanian stores following a notification regarding potential biological contamination in the beef supply. The recall, which is being treated with the highest level of urgency, concerns the ‘Extra line’ brand of frozen ‘Žemaičiai’ pancakes with meat filling, produced by the supplier ‘Liūtukas ir Ko’.

Health authorities and retail representatives are urging consumers who have purchased these products to stop using them immediately. The recall was triggered after the State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) identified potential Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)—commonly known as ‘Mad Cow Disease’—within the raw beef material used to manufacture the product. While the retailer emphasizes that the immediate risk to human health from a single consumption is statistically low, the nature of the contamination necessitates a total removal from the market.

Identification of Affected Batches

The recall specifically targets the 700g packages of ‘Extra line’ frozen ‘Žemaičiai’ pancakes. Maxima has released a comprehensive list of ‘Best Before’ dates that fall under the safety advisory. Consumers are advised to check their freezers for products with the barcode 2098766005085 and the following expiration dates:

• 2027.01.29 and 2027.01.30
• 2027.02.03, 2027.02.05, 2027.02.13, 2027.02.19, and 2027.02.20
• 2027.02.26 and 2027.02.27
• 2027.03.02 and 2027.03.06

Titas Atraškevičius, a spokesperson for Maxima, confirmed that the retailer acted immediately upon receiving the supplier’s report. “We have removed the contaminated batches from sale and have posted informational notices across our store network. We are conducting a full recovery from consumers until May 31, 2026,” Atraškevičius stated. He further warned that even thermal processing (cooking or frying) does not eliminate the health risks associated with this specific type of biological contamination.

The Significance of BSE Contamination

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy is a neurodegenerative disease that affects cattle. The concern for human health arises from the link between BSE and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) in humans, which can be contracted through the consumption of contaminated beef products. Unlike bacterial contamination such as Salmonella or E. coli, the prions responsible for BSE are exceptionally resilient and are not destroyed by standard cooking temperatures.

This incident highlights the complexities of modern food supply chains, where raw materials from a single supplier can affect multiple batches of processed goods. The supplier, ‘Liūtukas ir Ko’, is currently cooperating with the VMVT to trace the exact origin of the beef raw material. For UK readers and international observers, this serves as a reminder of the stringent protocols required within the EU’s food safety framework to prevent the re-emergence of BSE-related issues that significantly impacted European agriculture in previous decades.

Refund Procedures and Consumer Rights

Maxima has simplified the return process to ensure maximum consumer participation in the recall. Customers who have purchased the affected pancakes are entitled to a full refund. Notably, the retailer has stated that a refund will be issued even if the customer no longer possesses the original cash register receipt.

To claim a refund, customers can return the product to any Maxima store. If a receipt is available, or if the purchase can be verified through a ‘Ačiū’ loyalty card statement or a bank transaction record, the process is immediate. However, even without these documents, the store is mandated to accept the unsafe goods and compensate the buyer.

For those unable to visit a store in person, Maxima has provided several remote contact options, including a toll-free helpline (+370 800 200 50) and dedicated email support. The company has reiterated its commitment to food safety, noting that it regularly conducts independent laboratory testing and supplier audits to maintain quality standards, treating this breach as a serious violation of safety protocols.

Source: ELTA

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Source check Verified Retail Alert

This report is based on official statements from Maxima LT and the Lithuanian State Food and Veterinary Service.

Checks

• Confirmed product barcode 2098766005085 against retailer database.
• Verified the involvement of the State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT).
• Cross-referenced BSE safety protocols with European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) standards...

elta Check Maxima Lithuania official alerts

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elta

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Lithuania

Updated

2026-05-19 11:53

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Titas Atraškevičius

#BSE alert#Consumer Rights#food safety#Maxima Lithuania#product recall

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