Recent Food Recalls: Concerns Raised Over Contamination and Undeclared Allergens
A range of food products, from breakfast cereals and confectionery to pickled vegetables, have been subject to recalls in recent weeks. Alerts issued by the Food Standards Agency highlighted issues including potential contamination with foreign materials such as glass or insects, and the presence of undeclared ingredients that could pose a risk to individuals with allergies.
Affected items include granola possibly contaminated with insects, lasagne containing plastic fragments, and pistachio bars with an unreported milk allergen. Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled items are urged to return them to the point of purchase immediately.
List of Recent Major Food Recalls:
Rude Health Chocolate Crunch Granola
This breakfast cereal has been recalled due to the “possible presence of insects,” rendering it potentially unsafe for consumption. Insect contamination in food products can arise from various pests, including cockroaches, beetles, moths, and flies.
Consuming insect-contaminated food carries risks such as food poisoning, allergic reactions, and the potential transmission of diseases. This product was available at retailers including Tesco, Ocado, and Amazon. The affected batch is marked with a best before date of October 24, 2025, and the code PD24102024.
Iceland Vegetable Lasagnes
Vegetable lasagne meals have been recalled due to concerns over the potential presence of hard plastic pieces. The recall affects 400g packs sold at Iceland stores with best before dates of July 23, 2026, and July 30, 2026.
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An official notice cautioned that the plastic fragments could make these meals “unsafe to eat.” While plastic is commonly used in ready-meal packaging, certain types may contain chemical substances that can migrate into food when heated.
Essential Waitrose & Partners Seafood Sticks
Seafood sticks sold at Waitrose are being recalled because of an incorrect best before date code. This error may mean the product becomes unsafe to consume after the intended best before date of October 5, 2024.
The affected 250g packets, bearing a best before date of October 5, contain 16 individually wrapped white fish protein sticks. Consuming expired seafood can lead to food poisoning, with symptoms varying depending on the specific toxins involved.
Lokumella Mini Pistachio Bars
These pistachio-flavored confectionery items, sold in TK Maxx and Homesense stores between January and March, have been recalled due to concerns about undeclared milk content. This poses an allergy risk to milk-sensitive individuals.
It is estimated that approximately 2-7% of infants experience cow’s milk allergies, although most children outgrow this condition. Allergic reactions occur when the immune system mistakenly identifies proteins in cow’s milk as harmful.
Kelly Loves Sushi Ginger
Jars of sushi ginger sold at Waitrose and Asda are being recalled due to the potential risk of glass shards. Pickled ginger is traditionally served with sushi as a palate cleanser, intended to refresh taste buds between different pieces of sushi to enhance flavour appreciation.
Glass fragments or splinters can sometimes contaminate food products during the production, packaging, or handling stages.
Nestlé Frosted Shreddies
Breakfast cereal products manufactured by Cereal Partners UK and Ireland were recalled last month due to the “possible presence of small, hard lumps of sugar.” An alert stated that these sugar lumps could present a choking hazard.
These popular cereals are sold at numerous retailers, including Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose, and Tesco. Affected products include 500g boxes with a best before date of July 2025 and the batch codes:
- 42850952
- 42860952
- 42870952
- 42880952
- 42890952
- 42900952
Additionally, a number of 40g boxes sold within cereal selection packs with best before dates in June and July 2025 were also subject to recall.
Baxter’s Sliced Gherkins Crunchy & Sweet
Jars of gherkins have been recalled because of the potential presence of mustard which is not declared on the product label. This poses a hazard to individuals with mustard allergies. The recall applies to 540g packs with a best before date of June 2026 and the following batch codes:
- 2400059
- 2400060
- 2400061
- 2400062
Products with a best before date of July 2026 and batch code 2400063 are also affected. These pickles are sold at retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons.
Caramelized Biscuit Ice Cream and Biscoff Ice Cream
Ice cream products have been recalled due to the potential presence of hazelnuts, which are not declared on the label. This presents a risk to consumers with nut allergies. Tree nut allergies affect approximately 2% of children and 0.5% of adults in the UK.
Cheshire Farm has recalled a batch of 1L Caramelized Biscuit Ice Cream with a best before date of November 29, 2025, and the code L24150. Two batches of 1L Biscoff Ice Cream have also been recalled, with best before dates of November 19, 2024, and March 18, 2025, and codes L23139 and L23261 respectively.