The Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued urgent recall warnings over undeclared allergens
Stock photo of a person shopping(Image: Isabel Pavia via Getty Images)
Several well-known food items have been withdrawn from supermarket shelves nationwide this week following urgent recall notices issued by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. These products could present a significant health risk to certain shoppers, who are being urged not to consume the affected goods.
On Wednesday, Dunnes Stores withdrew a batch of popular ready meals owing to a mispackaging error that could trigger serious allergic reactions in some individuals. A batch of arrabiata pasta meals was incorrectly packed with a beef dish containing undeclared allergens, namely fish and gluten.
The chain is urging anyone who bought the product in question to refrain from eating it and to return it to any branch for a complete refund, with no receipt necessary. The recall applies to a particular batch of ‘Dunnes Stores Chicken Arrabbiata with Penne Pasta’, retailing at €4.50, bearing batch code E2236C204 and a use-by date of 01/02/2026.
This batch was mistakenly filled with Dunnes Stores Irish Beef Ragu and Conchiglie Pasta instead of the chicken arrabbiata dish indicated on the label. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has confirmed that the beef product contains the widespread allergens fish and cereals containing gluten, neither of which are listed on the packaging.
A spokesperson revealed: “The above batch has been mispacked with a Dunnes Stores Chicken Arrabbiata with Penne Pasta label while the food inside the tray is Dunnes Stores Irish Beef Ragu and Conchiglie Pasta. The beef product contains fish and cereals containing gluten (barley), which are not mentioned on the label. This may make the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of fish and/or barley, and therefore, these consumers should not eat the implicated batch. The affected batch is being recalled.”
Dunnes Stores Chicken Arrabbiata with Penne Pasta(Image: FSAI)
Dunnes Stores acknowledged that the allergen information on the label is incorrect due to “the incorrect sleeve.”
The retailer stated: “This may pose a risk to consumers with fish or barley allergy or intolerance, as they may unknowingly consume an allergen.
Customers are advised not to consume this product, instead to return it to a Dunnes Stores store for a full refund. No receipt is required. We apologise that it has been necessary to recall this product and for the inconvenience caused.”
Another retailer, Lidl, has also issued urgent recall notices this week. Lidl has recalled the Bridge Bakery Oxford Lunch Cake because it contains allergens not declared on the food label.
A popular cake sold in Lidl has been recalled due to the presence of an undeclared allergen(Image: FSAI)
The FSAI said the product contains almonds, which are not stated on the ingredient list.
The FSAI stated: “This may make the product unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of nuts (almonds), and therefore, these consumers should not eat the affected packs. The implicated product is being recalled by Lidl.”
All batch codes and best-before dates are affected by this alert. Lidl has issued an apology to customers, advising anyone who bought an affected product not to consume it and to bring it back to their nearest Lidl store for a complete refund.
A statement reads: “If you have purchased the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to Almonds, we advise you do not consume it.
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Instead, please return the product to a Lidl store for a full refund, with or without a receipt. Lidl wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Food allergy symptoms can affect multiple areas of the body at once. Some common symptoms include:
- an itchy sensation inside the mouth, throat or ears
- a raised itchy red rash (urticaria, or “hives”)
- swelling of the face, around the eyes, lips, tongue and roof of the mouth (angioedema)
- vomiting
In the most serious cases, a person has a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening.
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