MORRISONS has urgently recalled a popular cereal over fears it could trigger dangerous allergic reactions.
Boxes of Free From Gluten Choco Crackles were found to contain hazelnuts, milk and gluten-free oats, which aren’t correctly listed.
Morrisons/Food Standards AgencyMorrisons has recalled its Free From Gluten Choco Crackles over allergy fears[/caption]
“This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to hazelnuts (nuts), an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, and/or an allergy to oats (that are gluten free),” the government’s Food Standards Agency said.
The warning applies to 300g packets with a ‘best before‘ date of September 18, 2024.
Customers at risk can return the product to their nearest store for a full refund – with or without a receipt.
A Morrisons spokesperson said: “Please do not eat this product.
“We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and assure customers of our continuing commitment to the highest standard of product quality and safety.”
For further information, contact the supermarket‘s customer service department on 0345 611 6111.
About two million people are diagnosed with a food allergy in the UK.
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
Deaths from serious reactions due to food have declined in the last 20 years, but around 10 people still lose their lives annually, analysis of UK NHS data in 2021 shows.
Hospital admissions for food-induced anaphylaxis have also risen since the late 90s.
Between 1998 and 2018, there was a three-fold increase 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