Another explosive party? No, not that sort! Asda recalls Prosecco due to shattering risk

By Ben BOUCKLEY

- Last updated on GMT

Asda recalls Prosecco due to shattering risk

Related tags Sparkling wine Fermentation

The UK’s third-largest food and beverage retailer Asda has recalled five lot codes of Prosecco due to the risk of glass bottles shattering.
Prosecco

The line in question (pictured) is Prosecco Spumante Extra Dry 750ml (£5.48 or $8.77) and the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) said Asda had put notices in stores advising customers of the recall, and urging them to return the bottles in question for a refund.

[We] would like to apologize for the inconvenience,”​ Asda said in a statement.

The affected lot codes are L1402606, L1403271, L1403503, L1403655, L1404044.

The reason for the risk remains unclear,but this is the second reported case involving Prosecco this year.

In July the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board asked consumers to throw away some bottles of the bubbly after explosions at state stores.

The sparkling wine in question was "Indigenous Selections Prosecco Brut 2013" (PLCB No. 33283, 750 ml).

"Consumers should use caution when handling this product,"​ said PLCB Chairman Joseph E. Brion said, in regard to Indigenous Selections Prosecco Brut 2013.

"While we have not had any reports from consumers who may have been affected, we want to take every precaution in order to avoid a safety issue."

While the fault with the Asda line remains unclear, exploding bottles are a risk when one makes sparkling wine using secondary fermentation methods - adding yeast and sugar to the bottle to produce carbonation (CO2) or the bubbles that give wines like Champagne their effervescence.

If winemakers use too much sugar they risk excess pressure inside the bottle, which increases the risk of glass shattering.

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