ASDA has recalled a breakfast food staple over fears it could trigger dangerous allergic reactions.
Bags of Frozen Crispy Hash Browns were found to be contaminated with Potato Croquettes, which contain milk and wheat (gluten).
AsdaA ‘do not eat’ warning has been issued for Asda’s Frozen Crispy Hash Browns (800g)[/caption]
Neither ingredient is listed on the label.
“This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, and/or an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten, and/or coeliac disease,” the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said.
“[If this is you], do not eat it.”
The warning applies to 800g packets with a ‘best before‘ date of June 30, 2025, and a barcode number of 5052449493030.
No other batches are affected.
Customers at risk can return the product to their nearest store, where they will be given a full refund – with or without a receipt.
“We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused,” an Asda spokesperson said.
“If you would like further information, please contact customer relations on 0800 952 0101.”
There is an alert on the supermarket‘s website, signs are up in shops, and allergy support organisations have been informed.
The number of people in the UK living with a food allergy sits at around two million.
A further 600,000 have coeliac disease – a condition where the immune system attacks its own tissues when gluten is eaten.
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
When someone with coeliac disease eats gluten – found in wheat, rye, barley and oats – they often experience gut problems like:
Diarrhoea
Stomach ache
Bloating
Farting
Indigestion
Constipation
Gluten consumption can also trigger more general symptoms, such as fatigue, unintentional weight loss, an itchy rash, nerve damage, and disorders that affect coordination, balance and speech.
Potential long-term complications include infertility, osteoporosis, anaemia, and bowel cancer.
While deaths from serious food reactions have fallen in the last 20 years, around 10 people still lose their lives annually, analysis of 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