SAINSBURY’S has issued an urgent ‘do not eat’ warning after pulling popular crisps off the shelves over a serious label mistake.
The major supermarket has issued an urgent recall for its own-brand Onion Rings due to a dangerous labelling error, which could pose a significant risk to people with food allergies.
The 125g packs of onion rings, with a best before date of February 8, 2025, have been removed from shelves as they contain milk, soya, wheat or gluten, none of which are mentioned on the packaging.
This could be potentially life-threatening for customers with allergies to these ingredients or those with coeliac disease.
Shoppers who have already bought the product are being urged not to eat the crisps and instead return them to their nearest Sainsbury’s store for a full refund.
The supermarket has apologised for the mistake and has advised anyone with concerns to contact their helpline or visit their website for more information.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “We are recalling our Onion Rings as a precautionary measure due to the presence of allergens that are not listed on the label.
“We advise customers not to consume the product and return it for a refund. No other products are affected.”
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has also issued an alert, warning that the product could pose a serious health risk for those with allergies or intolerances to milk, soya, wheat, or gluten.
The FSA advises customers with any of these allergies to avoid the product and follow the refund process.
Allergy support organisations have been informed of the recall, and notices have been displayed in stores explaining the issue and what customers should do.
The presence of wheat or gluten can be extremely harmful to people suffering with coeliac disease.
Around one per cent of Brits have coeliac disease but only 36 per cent are diagnosed, according to Coeliac UK.
The charity estimates around half a million people in the UK are currently undiagnosed.
Coeliac disease causes the immune system to attack the body’s own tissues when you eat gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye.
This damages the gut, preventing the body from taking in nutrients properly.
Symptoms include diarrhoea, tummy pain and bloating, as well as indigestion, constipation, tiredness, weight loss, an itchy rash, infertility or nerve damage.
Patients who continue to eat gluten over time can suffer long-term gut damage, weakening of the bones and iron deficiency.
Many other conditions including non-coeliac gluten sensitivity also need a gluten-free diet, and it is now estimated that at least 10 per cent of UK consumers are following this diet.
The FSA issues alerts if there is a problem with food products which should not be sold.
This could be because it has been contaminated with something, such as mould or metal, or it carries an incorrect ‘use-by‘ date.
If you’ve purchased the Sainsbury’s onion rings and are affected by the labelling error, do not eat them – return them to your local Sainsbury’s store for a full refund.
What happens if someone with coeliac disease eats gluten by mistake?
The reaction to eating gluten varies from person to person.
In some people, it may trigger symptoms that last several days, while others might not experience any symptoms at all.
The amount of gluten someone eats can affect the degree of gut damage, and your individual sensitivity to gluten affects the symptoms you may or may not experience.
You may also find that your symptoms differ in type and/or severity compared to before you were diagnosed.
If a mistake is made and you have gluten by accident, it is unlikely to cause any long-term gut damage, although you may suffer from diarrhoea, abdominal pain or vomiting so it is important to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
You may find taking medication to treat constipation, diarrhoea or headaches can ease your symptoms.
Speak to your GP or pharmacist for further advice.
Source: Coeliac UK
