Supermarkets Across Ireland And UK Issue Urgent Food Recalls

Irish and UK supermarkets are facing a wave of urgent food recalls, with products pulled from shelves over the past week due to mislabeling, undeclared allergens, and contamination fears. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) have each issued a string of warnings, urging consumers to check their cupboards and avoid eating several popular items. The recalls range from ready meals and cakes to bottled water and snacks, affecting major retailers including Dunnes Stores, Lidl, Waitrose, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Poundland, and more.

On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Dunnes Stores initiated an urgent recall of its Chicken Arrabbiata with Penne Pasta ready meal. According to the FSAI, a specific batch—code E2236C204, use-by date February 1, 2026, and priced at €4.50—was mispacked with Irish Beef Ragu and Conchiglie Pasta. This mix-up is not just a labeling error; the beef dish contains fish and cereals containing gluten (specifically barley), allergens that are not declared on the packaging. This oversight poses a serious risk for anyone with allergies or intolerances to fish or barley.

The FSAI spokesperson explained, “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 responded quickly, acknowledging that the allergen information was inaccurate due to “the incorrect sleeve.” The retailer advised, “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.”

Meanwhile, Lidl has also been caught up in the recall storm. The supermarket chain has recalled its Bridge Bakery Oxford Lunch Cake after discovering that the product contains almonds, a nut allergen not listed on the packaging. This recall applies to all batch codes and best-before dates. The FSAI highlighted, “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.”

Lidl issued an apology, stating, “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.”

Food allergy symptoms can be unpredictable and sometimes severe, affecting different parts of the body at once. As outlined by both the FSAI and FSA, 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; and in the most serious cases, anaphylaxis—a potentially life-threatening reaction.

The issue of undeclared allergens and contamination is not limited to Ireland. Across the UK, several major supermarkets have issued their own urgent recalls. Between October 2025 and January 2026, TJX Europe recalled its Ten Acre Gifts/Coffee Syrup collection, sold in TK Maxx and Homesense, due to undeclared nuts, peanuts, soya, and wheat (gluten). The FSA stated, “This product may contain nuts, peanuts, soya and wheat (gluten) making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to nuts, peanuts, soya, and/or an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten, or with coeliac disease.” Customers are urged to return the product for a full refund.

Lidl GB has also recalled its Deluxe Red Cabbage with Apple, Dried Cranberries & Spices 480g because it may contain milk, another undeclared allergen. The FSA explained, “Lidl GB is recalling the above product from customers and has contacted the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall. The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers.”

Contamination concerns have led to further recalls. Waitrose has recalled batches of its No1 Deeside Mineral Water and No1 Deeside Sparkling Water due to the possible presence of glass. The affected batches have best-before dates in November and December 2027. Customers are being told not to drink the water and to return it for a refund.

Tesco and B&M have issued recalls for Calbee Hot & Spicy Chips and Calbee Pizza Chips, as the products contain undeclared mustard and celery, respectively. The Hot & Spicy Chips affect best-before dates up to June 5, 2026, while the Pizza Chips are affected up to April 28, 2026. The FSA warned, “This means the products are a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to mustard or celery. If you’ve bought the above products and have an allergy to mustard or celery, don’t eat them. Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund.”

Poundland & Dealz have also been impacted, recalling The Tasty Snack Co. Roasted and Salted Cashews due to the possible presence of glass. The affected batch code is 56T 25255, with a best-before date of July 19, 2026. The FSA emphasized, “If you have bought the above product do not consume it. Instead, return it to a Poundland store for a full refund (no proof of purchase required).”

Marks & Spencer has recalled its Milk Chocolate Honeycomb (120g, lot number 5242, best before May 12, 2026) because it may contain peanuts, a potentially life-threatening allergen for some. Iceland has pulled its Vegetable Lasagne (best before July 23 and July 30, 2026) due to the risk of plastic contamination. In both cases, customers are advised to return the items for a refund and not to consume them.

Food recalls are not uncommon, but the recent spate highlights the importance of accurate labeling and stringent quality control in the food industry. The FSAI and FSA both issue Product Withdrawal and Product Recall Information Notices to keep consumers informed and safe. Shoppers are encouraged to check official recall lists regularly and to heed warnings, especially if they have allergies or intolerances.

Retailers and food safety authorities emphasize that affected products can be returned for a full refund, often without the need for a receipt. The priority, they say, is consumer safety and confidence. As the recalls continue, shoppers are reminded to stay vigilant and to reach out to customer care lines for any questions or concerns about recalled products.

While the scale of recalls may seem daunting, the swift action from supermarkets and food safety authorities aims to prevent harm and maintain trust in the food supply chain. For now, those with allergies or concerns are best served by double-checking their cupboards—and perhaps making an extra trip to the store for a refund, just to be safe.