Undeclared allergens and metal contaminants

Undeclared crustaceans and milk

In the UK, British supermarket chain Iceland has announced that it is recalling its own brand Iceland 4 Golden Savoury Rice Steam Bags (600g, with the expiry date of 16 November 2025) due to them possibly containing crustaceans, fish, milk and molluscs that are not mentioned on the label.

This means that the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to crustaceans; and/or an allergy to fish; and/or an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents; and/or an allergy to molluscs.

Iceland is recalling the above product from customers and has been advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, who will tell their members about the recall. The company has also issued a recall notice to its customers, explaining why the product is being recalled and telling them what to do if they have bought the product. 

The advice being shared with customers is, if they have purchased the above product, to not eat it and instead return it to any Iceland store for a full refund.

Metal contamination

Also in the UK, Rathbones Kear has announced that it is recalling various packs of crumpets because they may contain small pieces of metal. The possible presence of metal makes this product unsafe to eat.

Included in the recall are: 

• Morrisons The Best Crumpets with Sourdough (6 pack)
• Morrisons Savers Crumpets (6 pack)
• Morrisons Crumpets (6 pack)
• Hovis Crumpets (6 pack).

Expiry dates of 6 August and 7 August 2024 are being recalled.

As Rathbones Kear are recalling the above products, point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the products.

If consumers have bought the above products, they are being told to not eat them and, instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund (a receipt is not required).

Undeclared milk

The last recent UK recall comes from Dunnes Stores, which is recalling Italian Tomato and Basil Sauce (250g, with the expiry date of 12 September 2024) because it contains milk which is not mentioned on the label.

This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents.

Dunnes Stores is recalling the above product from customers and has been advised by the FSA to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall.

The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers, explaining to customers why the product is being recalled and telling them what to do if they have bought the product. 

Consumers have been told that, if they have bought the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, to not eat it. Instead, they have been told to return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.

Lead contamination

In the US, four brands have announced the recall of their ground cinnamon/ cinnamon powder products because of a possible health risk due to potential contamination with elevated levels of lead. 

Included in the recall are: 

• ALB-USA Enterprises, Inc.: ALB Flavor brand Cinnamon Powder (100g), expiry date: 30 August 2025
• Advance Food International, Inc.: Shahzada brand Cinnamon Powder (7oz)
• American Spices, LLC: Spice Class brand Ground Cinnamon (7oz and 11oz), expiry date: December 2026
• Colonna Brothers: Marcum Ground Cinnamon (1.5oz), expiry date: 12 May 2025
• Colonna Brothers: Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon (2.25oz), expiry date: 10 June 2025.

Short-term exposures to very low levels of lead may not elicit any symptoms. It is possible that increased blood lead levels may be the only apparent sign of lead exposure. Additional signs and symptoms of lead exposure are more likely to be acute exposure to higher levels of lead or chronic exposure to lead.

While lead can affect nearly every bodily system, its effects depend upon the amount and duration of lead exposure and age/ body weight. If a child is exposed to enough lead for a protracted period of time (e.g., weeks to months) permanent damage to the central nervous system may occur. For adults, chronic lead exposure is associated with kidney dysfunction, hypertension and neurocognitive effects.

Currently, no illnesses connected with any of the above products have been reported to date. 

Customers have been told to discontinue use of the products immediately and urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.