Marks and Spencer has urgently recalled one of its chocolate treats due to major safety concerns following a labelling error.
The supermarket giant, known for its range of delicious products including the iconic Colin the Caterpillar cake, has pulled its own brand mini chocolate cornflake bites from sale after it was discovered that some pots contained nuts and gluten, which were not declared on the packaging.
This negligence could pose a serious health risk to anyone with a nut allergy, celiac disease, or an allergy or intolerance to oats, wheat, or gluten. In the most severe cases, consumption could even be fatal.
The affected product is sold in 180g packs, bearing the barcode number 00347884 and a use-by date of 6 August.
In light of this discovery, M&S has issued an urgent recall notice to customers who may have purchased the product, urging them to return it immediately to their nearest store for a full refund.
The company also apologised to customers who purchased the item and posted a notice at the point of sale to explain the situation and provide advice on what to do if they were affected.
In a statement, the company said: “Please do not consume this product if you have an allergy or intolerance to hazelnut, oat or wheat flour. If you wish to exchange the product, you can return it to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund,” the Mirror reports.
“For further information please contact us on 03330148555. We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused.”
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has also highlighted the potential danger of the product for people with allergies, issuing a statement which reads: “Marks and Spencer is recalling MandS Mini Chocolate Cornflake Bites because they contain hazelnuts (tree nuts), oats (gluten) and wheat (gluten), which are not mentioned on the label.”
“This means that the product poses a potential health risk to anyone with a hazelnut allergy and/or coeliac disease and/or an allergy or intolerance to oats, wheat or gluten.”
Unfortunately, Marks and Spencer is not the only supermarket to be hit by labelling errors recently.
The latest recall follows Waitrose, which was forced to pull several cupcakes from its shelves after coffee and walnut cakes were incorrectly packaged in chocolate cupcake wrappers.
If food products pose a potential danger to the public due to incorrect ingredients and allergy labels, the FSA will usually issue a recall for the problematic items.
It is estimated that around 2 million people in the UK suffer from food allergies. Life-threatening reactions are rare, but allergies can still pose a significant health risk to those who suffer from them.
It is therefore essential to consult a doctor immediately if you think you have been in contact with a known allergen.
