Two recalls from supermarkets this week
Shopping (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
A number of popular food products have been pulled from supermarket shelves across the country this week as the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has issued urgent recall warnings. The products may pose a serious risk to some consumers, and shoppers have been warned not to eat the affected items.
On Wednesday, Dunnes Stores recalled a batch of popular ready meals due to a mispackaging issue that may pose a serious allergy risk to some people. A batch of arrabiata pasta dinners was mispacked with a beef dish containing allergens, including fish and gluten.
The retailer is advising anyone who purchased the affected item not to consume it and return it to any store for a full refund. No receipt is required. The recall affects a specific batch of ‘Dunnes Stores Chicken Arrabbiata with Penne Pasta’, priced at €4.50, with batch code E2236C204 and a use-by date of 01/02/2026.
Dunnes Stores Chicken Arrabbiata with Penne Pasta(Image: )
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The batch has been mispacked with Dunnes Stores Irish Beef Ragu and Conchiglie Pasta, rather than the chicken arrabbiata stated on the label. According to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the beef product contains the common allergens fish and cereals containing gluten, which are not declared on the packaging.
A spokesperson said: “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 said the allergen information on the label is inaccurate due to “the incorrect sleeve.” The retailer said in a statement: “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.”
A second retailer 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. The FSAI said the product contains almonds, which are not stated on the ingredient list.
A popular cake sold in Lidl has been recalled due to the presence of an undeclared allergen(Image: )
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The FSAI said: “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.”
This alert affects all batch codes and best-before dates. Lidl has apologised to customers, urging anyone who purchased an affected product not to eat it and to return it to their nearest Lidl store for a full 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. 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.”
Symptoms of a food allergy can affect different parts of the body simultaneously. 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.