Hundreds of thousands of customers at popular UK food chains and supermarkets are being warned of an urgent health risk after a potentially life-threatening contamination was discovered in certain food products.
The Food Standards Agency has issued allergy alerts for customers who have purchased food items containing mustard ingredients from Harvester, Domino's, Spar, and Aldi, citing a high risk of contamination with peanuts.
According to reports, nearly sixty products across various brands are being recalled, adding to the growing list of food safety scares in recent years.
The warnings come after manufacturers detected the presence of peanut contamination in mustard ingredients used to produce multiple food items.
This unforeseen development prompted an urgent risk assessment by food safety experts, concluding that individuals with peanut allergies consuming contaminated products are at significant risk of an adverse reaction.
The UK food industry uses a vast array of ingredients in the manufacturing process, making it difficult to determine where the contamination originated. However, authorities confirm they are actively working with suppliers to rectify the issue.
With numerous food products pulled off the shelves, customers are advised to be vigilant and verify ingredient lists or contact manufacturers before consumption. As an increased precautionary measure, households are also advised to check their recent purchases for any of the recalled items.
The contaminated products largely include popular food items like sandwiches and salad dressings, raising alarm among consumers.
Healthcare experts recommend immediate action for customers with peanut allergies who have already consumed the recalled items and may be exhibiting symptoms such as difficulty breathing or rapid heartbeat.
The food recall marks the most recent health risk warning impacting the food retail industry this year, raising critical concerns over supply chain standards and the rigorous testing processes implemented in food manufacturing.