A “do not eat” alert has been put out by food safety watchdogs over concerns that ingredients could cause a serious allergic reaction in some consumers following a problem with the packaging
Supermarkets across Britain have issued an urgent recall notice after batches of a popular breakfast cereal were found to contain an ingredient that could potentially cause life-threatening allergic reactions.
A “do not eat” alert has been put out by food safety watchdogs for packets of Spoon Cereals’ Cinnamon and Pecan Granola.
The breakfast, which is on sale for up to £5 in Waitrose, Ocado and Morrisons, may contain peanuts and oats which could pose a risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to peanuts or gluten, officials have said.
The manufacturer, Spoons Cereals, has said the product recall applies to its 400g packets of the cereal with the batch code M5244 and specific best before dates. These included May 22, 2026 and 26 May 26, 2026.
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“A small number of one batch was mispackaged by a co-packer and as a result some products may contain peanuts and gluten,” they said.
“This product is a possible health risk to individuals with a peanut or gluten allergy or intolerance, or those with coeliac disease.
“If this applies to you, please do not consume. Please return to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Customers wanting more information are urged to contact Spoon Cereals by email at [email protected].
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which regulates food safety in the UK, explained: “The business has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers.
“These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.”
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakes substances found inside gluten as a threat to the body and attacks them.
The condition, thought to affect around one in 100 people, means sufferers cannot digest gluten. Symptoms range in severity from rashes to breathing problems and even unconsciousness.
The disease sees the lining of the small bowel damaged which disrupts the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. While the causes of the disease are still unclear it is thought a mix of environment and genetics play a role.
Meanwhile Peanuts are one of the 14 allergens that companies are legally required to declare on packaging. Around one in 50 children have an allergy to nuts in the UK and around one in 200 adults.
Nut allergies are one of the most severe and potentially deadly food allergies and can cause symptoms such as swelling, hives, difficulty breathing or dizziness.
Anyone who has consumed a product they think may be affected by the recall and is experiencing such symptoms is urged to seek medical help immediately.
About 6% of the UK adult population, around 2.4 million people, have a confirmed food allergy and in extreme cases even a microscopic amount of an allergen can be enough to cause illness and even death.