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Lidl has been forced to recall three of its product lines in the UK after it was found that they contained unspecified allergens.
The units affected are Lidl’s Bavarian-style smoked cheese with ham, bread baking mix and milk chocolate bar with hazelnuts. According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), they contain wheat, rye, barley, milk and hazelnuts – with none of the allergens in question listed on labels in English.
“This makes the products a possible health risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance,” the FSA said.
Shaun Bossons, executive vice-president for global business development of private label specialist Trace One, said: “The UK is facing a huge rise in both major and minor food allergies over the past decade that can’t be explained away by factors such as population growth. In England, adverse reactions are rising almost ten times faster than the population, while the number of hospital admissions for anaphylactic shock has almost doubled.
“At the same time, the foods we consume have become ever more complex, meaning there is greater potential for allergens to be introduced. Against this background, consumer trust is paramount. The industry needs to be certain that all ingredients are clearly labelled, and that if that labelling turns out to be inaccurate, as was the case here, products can be recalled in the shortest time possible to protect consumer trust and safety. Collaboration between retailers and their partners is key to making sure that this happens, reducing the chances of harm to customers and damage to retailers’ reputations.”
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