The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recalled the La Famiglia Rana Slow-Cooked Braised Beef Lasagne by Giovanni Rana (UK) due to a major packaging error
An urgent “do not eat” warning has been issued as a popular beef pasta ready meal sold in major UK supermarkets could actually contain fish instead.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recalled the La Famiglia Rana Slow-Cooked Braised Beef Lasagne by Giovanni Rana (UK) due to a major packaging error.
The ready meal serves two people and is described as “succulent chunks of braised beef in a rich sauce, layered with fresh egg pasta and béchamel sauce, topped with breadcrumbs.”
Although the dish is labelled as containing beef, due to a production error, some of the products actually contain prawn and lobster instead. As the packaging does not match the actual product, there is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to crustaceans.
Shellfish can cause severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, according to food allergy experts. According to Allergy UK: “A fish/shellfish allergic reaction occurs when the body recognises the food protein as harmful and mounts an allergic response.
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“An allergic reaction to seafood can be mild or moderate (swollen lips, face or eyes, itching, tingling mouth, hives, rash, abdominal pain, vomiting) or severe (breathing difficulties, dizziness or collapse). Fish/shellfish reactions have the potential to cause anaphylaxis, which is the most severe form of an allergic reaction.”
The product is sold in supermarkets including Tesco and Morrisons. In Morrisons, the dish is priced at £7 online, while in Tesco it is £9. Both supermarkets have issued their own recalls for the ready meal.
The notice from the Food Standards Agency said: “Some packs may contain Prawn & Lobster Lasagne, which contains crustaceans (prawns and lobster), which are not mentioned on the label. This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to crustaceans.”
The packs affected by the recall notice are 700g, have a batch code of L0B510816, and have a use-by date of June 17, 2025.
Customers who have purchased the product and have an allergy to shellfish should not eat it. Instead, they should return the product to the store where it was bought for a full refund. You don’t need a receipt. For further information, shoppers should contact the company on recall@rana.co.uk.
What are recall notices?
Products can be recalled for a range of different reasons including safety – if a product displays risks for the customer – or quality – when the product isn’t working as it should be.
The Food Standards Agency is in charge of issuing alerts when there is a problem with a food product. The product can either be “withdrawn” which is where is it taken off the shelves or “recalled” which is when customers are asked to return it.
Food products need to be recalled if they are found to have been contaminated with pathogens that could cause food poisoning, or if plastic or metal has been found in the product due to manufacturing faults.
Food items also need to be recalled if any allergen information is missing or incorrect. The Office for Product Safety and Standards is responsible for everything else which does not fall into food, medicines, and vehicles.
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