COSTA has urgently recalled four popular products over fears they contain stones.
The sandwiches and wraps present a choking hazard and are “unsafe to eat”, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said.
AlamyCosta has urgently recalled four sandwiches and wraps over fears they contain stones[/caption]
Customers who have purchased the affected snacks should return them to a store for a full refund.
Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap (use by: September 6, 7 and 8)Southern Fried Chicken Wrap (use by: September 6, 7 and 8)Chicken Salad Sandwich (use by: September 6, 7 and 8)BLT sandwich (use by: September 6, 7 and 8)
A spokesperson for Costa said: “Customer safety is of paramount importance to Costa and we take all issues regarding the production of our foods extremely seriously.
“We are completing a recall of these products due to the possible presence of small stones, which could pose a choking hazard.
“We are advising customers not to consume these products.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
The FSA added: “If you have bought the above products, do not eat them.”
People can then get their money back at the point of purchase.
Swallowing small, hard objects is a choking risk, particularly for young children.
It happens when someone’s airway suddenly gets blocked, either fully or partly.
The Southern Fried Chicken Wrap (use by: September 6, 7 and 8) is one of the affected productsCosta
Costa’s Chicken Salad Sandwich is also on the listCosta
Stones may also be present in the Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap (use by: September 6, 7 and 8)Costa
The BLT sandwich from Costa (use by: September 6, 7 and 8) should also not be eatenCosta
What to do if someone is choking
Mild choking
If the airway is only partly blocked, the person will usually be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe, and may be able to clear the blockage themselves.
In adults:
Encourage them to keep coughing
Ask them to try to spit out the object
Don’t put your fingers in their mouth
If coughing doesn’t work, start back blows
In children:
If you can see the object, try to remove it (but don’t poke blindly)
Encouraging coughing
Shout for help if coughing isn’t effective or the child is silent
Use back blows if the child is still conscious but not coughing
Severe choking
In adults:
Where choking is severe, the person won’t be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe.
Without help, they’ll eventually become unconscious, so you should carry out back blows.
In children:
Back blows can be carried out on children under one year.
If this doesn’t work, chest thrusts can be started on kids up to 12 months old, and abdominal thrusts on those over one year.
Call 999 if the blockage doesn’t come out after trying back blows and either chest or abdominal thrusts.
Keep trying this cycle until help arrives.
Even if the object has come out, get medical help. Part of the object might have been left behind, or the patient might have been hurt by the procedure.
Source: NHS