Lidl, Iceland and Waitrose have issued product recalls for some food items because of fears they could cause ill health including allergic reactions.
A warning has been issued for meatballs and ice cream by the Food Standards agency which makes sure food is up to scratch in Britain.
At Lidl a packaging error mean that a microwave meatball and pasta meal does not say on the label that it may contain milk.
The “What’s Cooking? Lighter for You Meatballs with Pasta and Spinach” could pose a health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk-based products.
Anyone with an allergy to milk should not eat the dish which has a best before date of 5 January 2022.
It can be returned to stores to get a refund or email a picture of the item to Lidl’s customer service, making sure the best before date is showing, and then throw the meal away.
Lidl recall
What’s Cooking? Lighter for You Meatballs with Pasta and Spinach
Pack size: 55g
Best before: 5 January 2022
Allergens: Milk
Pictures can be sent to [email protected] and refunds will be processed via a letter.
Other dishes in the “What’s Cooking?” range and the same meal but with different best before dates are not affected, the supermarket said.
Meanwhile Iceland has recalled Twix ice creams because of similar fears.
The Twix Barres Glacées (Twix Ice-Cream Bars) contain milk as well as wheat (gluten) and soya, none of which were listed on the ingredients label that was in English.
And there is also a risk they may contain nuts – including almonds, hazelnuts and peanuts.
It means the treats could pose a health risk to anyone with a nut allergy or intolerance, or those with an allergy or intolerance to milk, gluten or soya.
Waitrose recall
Item: Twix Barres Glacées (Twix Ice-Cream Bars)
Pack size: 18
Best before date: 30 June 2021
Allergens: Gluten (wheat), milk, nuts (almond, hazelnut, peanut), soya
And Waitrose is recalling a goats cheese because of worries that it could contain listeria.
If contaminated food is eaten, listeria can cause listeriosis, which causes flu-like symptoms such as high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea.
In extreme cases, it can also cause life-threatening illnesses including sepsis, meningitis and encephalitis.
The maker of the cheese, Bettinehoev, says the recall is a “precautionary measure due to the potential presence of listeria, which could cause illness if the product is eaten.”
Anyone who has the cheese in their fridge is advised not to eat it and return it to their nearest branch for a full refund.
The cheese was a Bettine Blanc goat’s cheese sold at the cheese counter between 4 September and 29 October.
Waitrose issued the recall on 30 October.
Waitrose recall
Item: Bettine Blanc Goat’s Cheese
Size: variable as for sale at cheese counter
Date of purchase: 4 September – 29 October
Risk: Listeria
Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods.
As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action.
But it’s often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer’s website to see if a safety notice has been issued.
Aldi last month extended its recall of two Roosters chicken products to include all batches and best before dates over fears they contain salmonella.
And Aldi, Asda, and Sainsbury’s shoppers have been urged to check any eggs purchased from the supermarkets over salmonella fears.
Asda has recalled kids dressing gowns over fears they could go up in flames if they catch fire.
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk