ALDI has recalled one of its ready meals over fears it could trigger life-threatening allergic reactions.
Batches of Carlos Takeaway Meat Feast Pasta Bake were found to contain mustard, which isn’t listed on the packaging.
AldiAldi has recalled batches of Carlos Takeaway Meat Feast Pasta Bake[/caption]
“This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to mustard,” the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned.
“If you have bought the above product and have an allergy to mustard, do not eat it.
“Instead return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.”
The notice applies to 600g products with a ‘best before‘ date of February 25, 26 and 27, 2024 (code 731020).
Signs are up in shops and allergy support organisations have been informed.
Affected customers can get their money back with or without a receipt.
An Aldi spokesperson said: “We apologise that this product did not meet our normal high standards and thank you for your cooperation.”
Around two million people in the UK live with a food allergy.
It’s not known how many are allergic to mustard, but it is one of the 14 major allergens.
This list also includes milk, eggs, celery and peanuts.
For allergy sufferers, eating problem foods can spark reactions, ranging from sneezing and dizziness to life-threatening anaphylaxis, which blocks the airways.
In serious cases, this can cause a dramatic drop in blood pressure, unconsciousness and even death.
According to the NHS, other common anaphylaxis symptoms include:
Swelling of your throat and tongue
Difficulty breathing or breathing very fast
Trouble swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice
Wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing
Tiredness or confusion
Feeling faint, dizzy or fainting
Skin that feels cold to the touch
Blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue (if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
Swelling of the lips, face and eyes
Diarrhoea
Nausea and/or vomiting
Stomach pain
Itchy skin or hives
Around 10 people die every year from serious food reactions, analysis of NHS data in 2021 showed.
And between 1998 and 2018, there was a three-fold increase in hospital admissions for food-induced anaphylaxis per year, from 1.23 to 4.04 admissions per 100,000 population.
What to do if you have anaphylaxis
Use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one (instructions are included on the side of the injector).
Call 999 for an ambulance and say that you think you’re having an anaphylactic reaction.
Lie down – you can raise your legs, and if you’re struggling to breathe, raise your shoulders or sit up slowly (if you’re pregnant, lie on your left side).
If you have been stung by an insect, try to remove the sting if it’s still in the skin.
If your symptoms have not improved after five minutes, use a second adrenaline auto-injector.
Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better.
Source: NHS