Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has asked the retailers to remove Slim-Fast Ready-to-Drink products in cans from their shelves, a senior official told Gulf News on Monday.

The move follows the recall of the products by Unilever, the manufacturer, due to possible health risk.

"Our quick response team received an alert from FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) and instructed the inspectors on the field to ask the retailers remove the products from the shelves", said Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Manager of Communication and Information Department at ADFCA.

"The retailers have to hold the products until ADFCA conducts a lab test [of the products]," he said.

A press release issued by FDA said the recall involves all Slim-Fast Ready-to-drink (RTD) products in cans. No other Slim-Fast products are affected by this recall, such as Slim-Fast powdered shakes, meal bars, or snack bars .

The recall was initiated after the company conducted quality testing on Slim-Fast RTD products in cans. Out of caution, the company is recalling all RTD products in cans that are currently in distribution centres, on-shelf or in back rooms in retail outlets or in consumers' homes.

The company is in the process of identifying and correcting the production issue, and will resume production and shipment of the product when the issue has been addressed and corrected, said the press release.