Marks & Spencer is the latest retailer to recall a food product because it poses a possible health risk to some consumers.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) explained that certain batches of Wilderbee Gochujang Hot Honey contain gluten, making it a “possible health risk” for anyone with coeliac disease and/or an allergy or intolerance to gluten or cereals containing gluten. The product is sold at M&S.
Wilderbee Gochujang Hot Honey
Pack size: 260g, 350g, 1.4kg
Batch code: All batches (up to batch number 426)
Best before: May 11, 2026
Those who have a sensitivity to gluten have been advised not to consume the product
Instagram / @wilderbeehoney
The FSA stated: “The WilderKitchen is recalling the above product from customers and has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall.
“The company has also issued a recall notice to its customers. This notice explains to customers why the product is being recalled and tells them what to do if they have bought the product.”
The official notice reads: “Following a notification from one of our ingredient suppliers, they have made us aware of undeclared gluten in certain batches of an ingredient which they have supplied to us for our WilderBee Gochujang Hot Honey Product.
“As part of our commitment to quality, transparency and safety of our customers, we are taking a precautionary measure and are acting first as an affected brand, by voluntarily recalling this product while we work to ensure a compliant replacement can be offered.
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“If you have bought Wilderbee Gochujang Hot Honey as detailed above, and you have a sensitivity to gluten, please do not consume this product.
“Instead, please return the product to The WilderKitchen for a full refund. You can contact us at support@wilderkitchenfood.com to arrange directly.”
The WilderKitchen apologised to shoppers for any inconvenience caused and asked customers to be reassured of its “continued commitment to producing the highest quality Hot Honey products”.
Customers were also told that no other products from The WilderKitchen are affected by the recall.
The WilderKitchen’s Wilderbee Gochujang Hot Honey is sold at M&S
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Marks & Spencer has shared this notice on its Product Recalls page.
Coeliac UK provides important information on coeliac disease and gluten sensitivity. Experts stated: “Coeliac disease is a serious illness where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues when you eat gluten. This causes damage to the lining of the gut and means the body can’t properly absorb nutrients from food. Coeliac disease is not an allergy or food intolerance.”
Referencing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, the experts said: “Symptoms range from mild to severe, and can include bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, wind, constipation, tiredness, mouth ulcers, sudden or unexpected weight loss (but not in all cases), and anaemia. Because of the way that coeliac disease can affect the gut, it’s frequently misdiagnosed as IBS.”
As for gluten sensitivity, the experts said: “Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity is when symptoms similar to coeliac disease are experienced, but it is not clear how the immune system might be involved because no antibodies are produced, and there does not appear to be damage to the gut lining.”
Information on both coeliac disease and gluten sensitivity is available on Coeliac UK’s official website.
Explaining why food recalls occur, the FSA stated: “Sometimes there will be a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold.
“Then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product).
“Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk. When there is a food allergy risk, the FSA will issue an Allergy Alert.”
