This past month, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has reported seven instances of food recalls due to undeclared allergens. The majority of these alerts (4) were caused by undeclared milk, leading to products being removed from sale by discount supermarket Lidl, Premier Foods, Booker Group, and Grape Tree. Additionally, there were two recalls due to undeclared gluten from Tesco and Warp Snacks, and two instances of undeclared soya from Yaadgaar and Fito Nature Boutique.
A breakdown of all the recalls can be found below:
Foreign contaminants were also a cause for food recalls in the past month. For example, Ramona’s has recalled Ramona’s Heavenly Original Houmous due to the potential presence of plastic pieces, posing a choking hazard and making the product unsafe to consume. The manufacturer has identified the contamination in a single batch of the product (500g with the use-by date of 28 July 2023) and advises customers who have purchased the affected houmous to return it to the store for a full refund.
In another case, a labeling error led to the recall of Ossa’s Organic Chicken Bone, Beef Bone, and Vegetable broths. The products were shipped with an incorrect use-by date on the packaging, rendering them unsafe to eat. The affected pack sizes (all 500g) carried a use-by date of 5 November 2023, whereas the actual safe-to-eat date was different. The recall applies to Chicken Bone broth with the batch code 2204, Beef Broth with the batch code 2203, and Vegetable broth with the batch code 2114.
Furthermore, Waitrose is recalling Waitrose Extra Large King Prawns (Ready to Eat) due to the presence of raw, uncooked prawns. This recall affects all 220g packs of prawns with the use-by date of 14 June 2024. Consumers are advised not to consume the affected prawns and to return them to the store for a full refund.
Given the frequent occurrences of food recalls in the headlines, it is crucial to take necessary precautions. Alison Friel, director of food consulting and training at NSF, offers insights on how to safeguard against this growing threat.
Here is the table summarizing the products and the reasons for their recalls:
Product: Waitrose Extra Large King Prawns
Reason for recall: Uncooked prawns in the product
Company: Waitrose
Batch code(s): N/A
Pack Size: 220g
Use-by date: 14 June 2023
Product: Grape Tree Toffee Popcorn
Reason for recall: Undeclared milk
Company: Grape Tree
Batch code(s): All
Pack Size: 200g
Best-before/Use-by date: up to and including end of December 2023
Product: Jack’s Guacamole
Reason for recall: Undeclared milk
Company: Booker Group
Batch code(s): N/A
Pack Size: 125g
Best-before/Use-by date: 24 June 2023
Product: Aldi The Foodie Market Lentil Bites Salted
Reason for recall: Undeclared gluten
Company: Warp Snacks
Batch code(s): All
Pack Size: 113g
Best-before/Use-by date: All date codes
And so on…
In conclusion, it is essential for food manufacturers to be vigilant and ensure accurate labeling to prevent allergic reactions and other health risks. Consumers should always check product labels for allergen information and promptly return any recalled products to the store of purchase for a refund.
