Asda is the latest supermarket to recall a food product because it is unsafe for some customers to eat.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: “Asda is recalling ASDA Extra Special Sea Salt & Chardonnay Wine Vinegar Hand Cooked Crisps because they contain milk, which is not mentioned on the label.
“As a result of a packaging error, some packs contain Cheese & Onion Crisps. This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents.
ASDA Extra Special Sea Salt & Chardonnay Wine Vinegar Hand Cooked Crisps Pack size:150g
Best before: September 21, 2024
‘The product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents’
Asda
The FSA told shoppers: “Asda is recalling the above product from customers. The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers.
“These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.”
Asda advised customers: “If you have purchased ASDA Extra Special Sea Salt & Chardonnay Wine Vinegar Hand Cooked Crisps 150g with the above Best Before date, please bring it back to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund. You do not need your receipt.”
The supermarket assured customers that no other date codes are affected.
Asda apologised to customers for any inconvenience caused and urged them to contact Asda Customer Relations at 0800 952 0101 if they require further information.
The FSA explained why products are sometimes recalled: “Sometimes there will be a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold.
“Then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product).
“Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk. When there is a food allergy risk, the FSA will issue an Allergy Alert.
Regarding cow’s milk allergies and intolerances, Allergy UK explained: “Immediate allergy (IgE mediated) is quick to appear and caused by the immunoglobulin E antibody. Typically, these allergic symptoms happen within minutes of consuming cow’s milk or up to two hours afterwards.
“This type of reaction is described as IgE mediated food allergy. This is the most common type in adults. In some adults with mild IgE-mediated milk allergy, a period of prolonged and strict avoidance may result in the allergy becoming more severe.
“Delayed allergy (non IgE mediated) is slow to appear and caused by a different part of the immune system reacting in a different way. This type of reaction is described as Non-IgE mediated food allergy but it is less common in adults.
“The symptoms typically develop from two hours after consumption but can take up to 72 hours. If cow’s milk continues to be consumed in the diet, the immune system will continue to produce such symptoms over days or even weeks.
“Intolerance reactions do not involve IgE antibodies or the immune system. The most common mechanism for a milk intolerance is due to the milk sugar lactose. Reactions are usually delayed, occurring several hours and sometimes up to several days after eating the offending food.
“The symptoms caused by these reactions are usually gut symptoms, such as bloating, diarrhoea, constipation and IBS. For more on lactose intolerance, this is explained later in the factsheet.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Waitrose recently recalled chocolate cupcakes
Waitrose
For those with an IgE (immediate) mediated allergic reaction to cow’s milk, “signs and symptoms usually occur within minutes of contact with cow’s milk, but can also occur up to one hour later”.
“Most allergic reactions are mild but they can also be moderate or severe. Anaphylaxis (pronounced ana-fil-laxis) is the most severe form of allergic reaction which can be life-threatening.”
Mild to moderate symptoms include an itchy mouth, tongue and throat, the swelling of lips, around the eyes or face, red raised itchy rash (often called nettle rash, hives or urticaria), vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, and a runny nose and sneezing.
Allergy UK continued: “Any one or more of the following symptoms are a sign of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) and should be treated as a medical emergency. If available, adrenaline should be given without delay and an ambulance called with the call operator informed that it is anaphylaxis.”
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include the swelling of the tongue and/or throat, difficulty in swallowing or speaking or change in voice (hoarse voice), wheezing (whistling noise) or persistent cough, difficult or noisy breathing, dizziness, collapse, and loss of consciousness (due to a drop in blood pressure).
Asda is not the only supermarket that has recently issued a recall. TK Maxx recently recalled multiple products that pose a “safety risk”, including a “banned” ingredient and a “choking hazard”.
Waitrose also urgently pulled cupcakes from shelves over a risk of hives and nausea.
