The Food Standards Agency (FSA), in collaboration with Food Standards Scotland (FSS), has launched an investigation into the contamination of mustard ingredients with peanuts, tracing the issue to three suppliers in India.
The suppliers have provided contaminated mustard to three UK spice companies, including FGS Ingredients Ltd, which have in turn distributed these ingredients to various manufacturers, hospitality, and retail businesses across the UK.
Urgent allergy advice was issued on 20 September after initial findings, and since then, the FSA has worked to track the contaminated products. As of 27 September, 66 product recalls have been issued, and further recalls are expected as testing has identified contamination with peanut in multiple products across a number of businesses.
Several SPAR own label products and products in Booker’s Jack’s range are affected.
“This investigation is complex and the FSA and FSS are working with relevant businesses, local authorities, and agencies to put all necessary measures in place to protect consumers,” Rebecca Sudworth, director of policy at the FSA, said.
“For now, it remains very important that anyone with a peanut allergy avoids consuming products containing mustard as an ingredient until we are satisfied industry has identified and recalled all the specific affected products. Parents and carers of children who have a peanut allergy should take care to check the labels of food they buy and, if eating out, or getting a takeaway, ask the restaurant or cafe about foods that might contain mustard.”
Businesses have been instructed to perform urgent checks on their products and to contact suppliers to verify potential contamination.
The FSA added that it is working closely with local authorities and agencies to manage the situation and protect consumers.
Investigations into the root cause of the contamination are ongoing, both in the UK and India.
Consumers who believe they may have had an allergic reaction linked to the contaminated products are encouraged to report it to the food business and local authorities.
