In a concerning development for consumers, Tesco has issued a recall for its "free from" Katsu curry and sweet and sour meal kits due to a labeling oversight that failed to mention the presence of soya, an allergen for some individuals. This recall, announced on March 26, 2025, affects Katsu curry kits with best-before dates up to and including December 12, 2025, and sweet and sour meal kits with best-before dates up to and including May 19, 2025. The affected products are sold in 250g packs.
Officials from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which published the alert, emphasized that the omission poses a potential health risk for those allergic to soya. Customers are advised to return the products to any Tesco store for a full refund. Alongside the recall, a point-of-sale notice has been issued to inform customers about the reasons behind the recall and the steps they should take if they have purchased the products.
Soya, derived from soybeans, is commonly used in various food items, including soy sauce and tofu. According to Anaphylaxis UK, individuals with a soya allergy can experience immediate reactions, such as rashes, tingling or itching in the mouth, and swelling of the lips, eyes, or face. Delayed reactions may include stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
This recall follows a recent trend in food safety concerns, as various food products have been recalled due to contamination issues. For instance, Rude Health Foods recently recalled its Chocolate Crunch Granola due to fears of insect infestation, adding to the growing list of food safety alerts.
In a broader context, recent months have seen a surge in food recalls across the industry, with incidents involving foreign objects in food products becoming alarmingly common. Chef’s Line, for example, recalled nearly 75,000 cases of black bean and grain burgers and sliders due to the potential presence of a metal bolt, which poses a choking hazard.
Last week, Nestlé announced a recall of several frozen meals, including Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli and Stouffer’s Party Size Chicken Lasagna, after customers reported finding “wood-like material” in the products. This incident highlights the growing concern over the safety of pre-packaged meals.
On March 7, Johnsonville recalled 35,000 pounds of turkey kielbasa due to possible contamination with “pieces of rubber.” While the company reported no known injuries related to this contamination, the incident raises questions about the safety standards in food manufacturing.
Adding to the list of recalls, Chomps recalled nearly 30,000 pounds of Original Beef Sticks on March 27, 2025, due to potential metal contamination, a concern that has become increasingly prevalent in the food industry. Aldi also pulled bags of shredded Colby Jack cheese last month because of the potential presence of stainless-steel fragments.
In January, DJ’s Boudain removed nearly 18,000 pounds of sausage link products that may be contaminated with “pieces of a pen,” which caused at least one reported oral injury. These incidents underscore the alarming reality that foreign objects can find their way into food products, posing serious risks to consumers.
Experts in food safety have pointed to human error as a leading cause of food contamination. Amy Johnston, an extension educator in food safety at the University of Minnesota, noted that bits of metal or plastic could result from faulty equipment or production errors. “Still, human error is the leading cause of food contamination and illness, no matter the type of hazard,” she explained.
Johnston further indicated that staffing shortages, which many companies are currently facing, could exacerbate the issue of hazardous items appearing in grocery stores. “The cadence of it does feel more frequent,” she said, suggesting that inadequate training or rushed processes might lead to more mistakes in food production.
Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University, expressed concern that budget cuts to government inspections could leave consumers more vulnerable to food safety risks. She pointed out that while companies are required to have tailored food safety plans, the effectiveness of these plans can be compromised if they are not adequately funded or implemented.
“Prevention is really hard to demonstrate an ROI on, and so it’s often put on the chopping block first,” Kowalcyk noted, emphasizing the importance of maintaining rigorous safety standards in food production.
As food recalls continue to make headlines, consumers are urged to remain vigilant and report any foreign objects they encounter in their food. The FDA and USDA have established guidelines for acceptable levels of non-hazardous, naturally occurring defects in food, but the presence of foreign objects like metal or plastic is a different concern altogether.
With multiple recalls making waves in the industry, it’s clear that food safety remains a pressing issue. Consumers are encouraged to stay informed about recalls and to take necessary precautions when purchasing food products. As the situation develops, the hope is that manufacturers will enhance their safety protocols to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
