Major UK supermarket issues urgent recall for popular product: 'Do not eat'

Marks and Spencer (M&S), the major supermarket chain, has issued a ‘do not eat’ recall for their M&S Belgian Dark Chocolate product.

Milk has not been included as an ingredient on the label

The recall pertains to the M&S Belgian Dark Chocolate Bar product, with a pack size of 180g and barcode 29087570, Express reports.

Both the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and M&S have issued statements about the recall. Meanwhile, M&S has reached out to organisations dealing with allergies.

According to the FSA, the chocolate product has been recalled because of a failure to mention milk as part of the ingredients on the label thus presenting a food allergy risk:

This product contains milk making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents.

The FSA also outlined action taken by the company to ensure the safety of shoppers.

Meanwhile, the statement by M&S to their customers included an apology, recognized the undeclared presence of the allergen milk in a small number of packs and instructed consumers ‘do not eat’:

We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused. Please do not consume this product if you have an allergy or intolerance to milk.

M&S has also advised customers wishing to return the product that they are eligible for a refund:

If you wish to exchange the product, you can return It to your nearest store where a full refund will be given.

Recalls are not common but must be taken seriously

The FSA considers food recalls as not common, but they must be taken seriously when they do take place, especially when there are problems with the product labels, Express reports:

Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers because the allergy labeling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk.

According to the Daily Echo, in cases of a food recallbased on the risk of an allergy, there will be an alert issued by the FSA, which it what happened in the case of the M&S Belgian Dark Chocolate product:

When there is a food allergy risk, the FSA will issue an Allergy Alert.

Sources used:

-Express: ‘Marks and Spencer recalls chocolate due to undeclared ingredient - 'do not eat'

-DailyEcho: ‘M&S recall and 'do not eat' warning over possible health risk’