Belgium, 25 August (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Colruyt has issued a Colruyt courgette recall after its supplier warned of the possible presence of heptachlor in loose courgettes sold through several of the retailer’s chains in Belgium and Luxembourg. Customers who bought the affected vegetables have been told not to eat them and to return them to a store for a refund.
Colruyt removes affected courgettes from stores
According to an official recall notice published by Colruyt on Tuesday, 25 August, the affected product is loose courgettes carrying article number 29707.
The vegetables were sold between 10 August and 24 August 2026 inclusive. Colruyt said the products have now been removed from shelves across all affected stores.
The recall covers products offered through Colruyt Belgium and Luxembourg, Okay, Colruyt Professional, Collect&Go, Spar and Comarché, giving the warning a broad reach across the group’s retail network.
Consumers should check purchases made during the specified period rather than assuming that all courgettes currently on sale are affected.
Supplier warned of possible heptachlor presence
Colruyt said its supplier informed the company of the possible presence of heptachlor in the courgettes.
Following the warning, the retailer decided to withdraw the affected produce from sale and contact customers for whom the information was considered relevant.
In its official notice, Colruyt said customers who purchased the courgettes should not consume them and should instead return them to a store. The purchase price will be refunded.
The retailer has not stated in the recall notice that every affected courgette contains the substance. The action is precautionary because of its possible presence.
Official advice to Colruyt customers
The Colruyt courgette recall notice confirms that all products covered by the alert have meanwhile been removed from store shelves.
Colruyt Group has directed customers seeking additional information to its customer service department on 0800 99 124.
The company’s recall procedure is designed to remove affected products at consumer level when a potential product-safety issue has been identified. Colruyt Group’s published quality procedures also provide for remaining stock to be removed when a consumer recall is initiated.
Why the recall matters for shoppers
The alert is particularly relevant to people who bought loose courgettes from the affected retailers during the two-week sales period.
Customers should use the article number and purchase period provided by Colruyt to identify whether their vegetables fall within the recall rather than discarding unrelated products.
The incident also demonstrates the importance of product traceability across large retail networks. A single affected product can be distributed through several supermarket brands, professional outlets and online grocery services.
What customers should do next
Customers affected by the Colruyt courgette recall should follow the retailer’s instruction not to consume the vegetables and return them to a participating store for reimbursement.
No additional action or expanded recall was announced in Colruyt’s notice published on 25 August. Consumers should therefore follow any further information issued by Colruyt or Belgium’s food-safety authorities if the scope of the alert changes.
