A popular product from Aldi’s party food selection has been urgently recalled over fears it could pose a deadly risk to those with allergies.
The supermarket chain said its Let’s Party Vegetable Bao Buns may contain sesame and duck meat which is not mentioned on the label.
Customers who have bought the product, sold in packs of eight, have been advised ‘not to eat it’ as it could prove life-threatening to those with a sesame allergy.
The recall affects all packs of Aldi’s Let’s Party Vegetable Bao Buns and not one particular batch.
Officials at the Food Standards Agency (FSA), who published the alert, told customers who have an allergy to sesame to return the product to the branch where it was purchased for a full refund.
Aldi stated in the recall: ‘Our supplier is recalling Let’s Party Vegetable Bao Buns due to an error meaning some products contain an undeclared allergen (sesame) as well as duck meat which is not listed on the packaging.
‘This may present a health risk to anyone with a sesame allergy.’
It added: ‘We apologise this product did not meet our normal high standards and thank you for your co-operation.’
The recall affects all packs of Aldi’s Let’s Party Vegetable Bao Buns and not a particular batch
Officials at the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which published the alert, told customers who have an allergy to sesame to return the product to the store where it was bought for a full refund
Aldi has also contacted the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall.
A point-of-sale notice has also been issued to its customers.
Sesame allergy affects one in 100 people, according to the NHS.
It has also become more common over the last 20 years, Anaphylaxis UK warns.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to sesame include a rash, swelling around the face, lips, or eye, an itchy throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain and an itchy feeling in the mouth.
Reactions such as these can happen within minutes or over a couple of hours after eating sesame products.
While most people with the allergy only have mild reactions, it can cause severe reactions known as anaphylaxis.
When this happens, sufferers find they become unable to breathe and may lose consciousness.
If adrenaline (usually in the form of an Epipen) is not supplied rapidly, patients are at risk of coma and death.
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who had a deadly nut allergy, died age 15 after suffering an allergic reaction to a Pret sandwich on a British Airways flight while travelling home from dream trip to Nice in 2016.
In the wake of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse’s death, her parents, Tanya and Nadim, campaigned for a ‘Natasha’s Law’ to ensure that all food carries warning labels about allergens.
Before the law came into place in 2021, retailers were exploiting a gap in legislation which meant producers did not have to put ingredient or allergen labels on food that was made on-site.