Tesco and Waitrose have issued urgent food recalls over undeclared mustard and gluten allergens. Check your fridge and cupboards for affected items.
Major UK supermarkets Tesco and Waitrose have issued urgent product recalls and “do not eat” warnings coordinated through the Food Standards Agency (FSA), following separate manufacturing errors involving undeclared allergens and incorrect packaging labelling.
The latest safety alerts affect staple household items purchased over recent weeks, prompting both retailers to urge customers to check their refrigerators, freezable goods, and kitchen cupboards immediately.
Tesco Recalls Coleslaw Over Hidden Mustard Risk
Tesco is pulling specific batches of its own-brand deli lines off shelves due to a packaging mix-up that poses a severe health risk to shoppers with specific dietary restrictions.
The recall specifically targets Tesco Finest Caesar & Smoked Bacon Coleslaw (270g packs) carrying a use-by date of September 4, 2026. According to quality assurance checks, some pots were mistakenly filled with Tesco Finest Four Cheese Potato Salad instead.
Because the substitution introduces mustard, an ingredient not declared on the coleslaw’s packaging label—it creates a hidden health hazard for anyone suffering from a mustard allergy. Consuming the product could trigger adverse immune responses in sensitive individuals.
“If you’ve bought the affected product and have an allergy to mustard, please don’t eat it,” Tesco stated in an official customer notice. “Instead, return the product to any Tesco store where a full refund will be given. No receipt is required.”
Waitrose Pulls Rhubarb Crumble Due to Gluten Oversight
Meanwhile, Waitrose & Partners has initiated a safety recall for its popular dessert line: the Waitrose Rhubarb Crumble (500g packs) with a use-by date of August 19, 2026.
The item has been flagged because it contains oats (gluten) that were omitted from the ingredients list.While the product features home freezing instructions allowing consumers to freeze the item for up to a month, the oversight poses a significant medical threat to anyone with coeliac disease or an intolerance to oats or gluten.
The FSA has stressed that consumers who fall within these vulnerable groups must avoid consuming the dessert entirely. Customers can return the affected crumble to any local Waitrose branch to obtain a full refund or reach out to Waitrose Customer Care directly for assistance.
Regulatory Push for Greater Supply Chain Vigilance
The latest round of supermarket alerts highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in automated packaging and labelling lines across major UK food supply chains.
Food safety regulators continue to remind the public that product recall notices are legally mandated to prevent avoidable allergic reactions and foodborne illnesses. Shoppers affected by either recall can process returns at any respective store location without needing proof of purchase.
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