1. Tesco Grape & Berry Medley – Salmonella Contamination
- Product: Tesco Grape & Berry Medley (230g)
- Issue: Salmonella bacteria found in the fruit mix poses a risk of food poisoning.
- Use‑by Dates Affected: 16 Feb 2026 and 17 Feb 2026.
- Risk: Salmonella can cause symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps — and can be particularly serious for vulnerable people.
- Advice:
- Do not eat the product if you have it in your fridge.
- Return it to your nearest Tesco store for a full refund.
- If you experience symptoms after eating it, stay away from work, school or nursery until symptom‑free for at least 48 hours to avoid passing infection on to others. (FreshPlaza)
This recall was highlighted in the latest safety alerts and notices by consumer safety trackers. (Which?)
2. Lidl UK Snack Recall – Possible Choking Hazard
- Product: Lidl GB Snaktastic Multigrain Bites (Sour Cream & Black Pepper flavour)
- Issue: The product may contain pieces of foil, which could pose a choking hazard.
- Pack Size & Batch: 150 g packs, batch code 207 345, with a best‑before date of 04 April 2026.
- Advice:
- Customers who purchased this product should not eat it.
- Return it to any Lidl store for a full refund regardless of receipt.
- Lidl has placed point‑of‑sale notices in stores to alert shoppers. (New Food Magazine)
This recall reflects an urgent supermarket safety action aimed at preventing physical injury from foreign objects in a food product. (New Food Magazine)
3. Farmfoods Ritz Cheese Sandwich – Undeclared Allergens
- Product: Ritz Cheese Sandwich (91g) sold by Farmfoods.
- Issue: The product includes milk, soya and wheat (gluten) that are not properly emphasised on the packaging labelling — posing a serious health risk for people with allergies or intolerances to these ingredients.
- Advice:
- Anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk, soya or gluten should not eat this product.
- Return it to the Farmfoods store where it was purchased for a full refund.
- Point‑of‑sale notices have been placed in stores to alert customers. (Food Standards Agency)
This recall stems from an allergen labelling error, which the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has formally notified as an allergy alert. These types of labelling oversights can be dangerous for people with coeliac disease or food allergies. (Food Standards Agency)
What This Means for Shoppers
Safety First
- Do not eat any of the affected products listed above if they match the described use‑by dates, batch codes or descriptions.
- Return to store: Most retailers will offer a full refund even without a receipt.
- Health guidance: If you have consumed a recalled product and develop symptoms (e.g., digestive distress after eating the Tesco fruit mix), consult a healthcare provider and follow public health guidance to prevent spreading any infection. (FreshPlaza)
Retailer Responsibility
- Supermarkets are legally required to notify customers of food safety issues through point‑of‑sale notices, online alerts, and refund policies when potential health risks are identified.
- Recall notices are typically issued through the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and displayed in stores selling the affected products. (Food Standards Agency)
Summary of Recalls
| Retailer | Product | Issue | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | Grape & Berry Medley | Salmonella contamination | Do not eat; return for refund |
| Lidl | Snaktastic Multigrain Bites | Possible foil pieces (choking risk) | Do not eat; return for refund |
| Farmfoods | Ritz Cheese Sandwich | Undeclared milk, soya, wheat allergens | Do not eat if allergic; return for refund |
Here’s a case‑study and commentary‑style breakdown of the urgent UK food recalls involving Tesco, Lidl and Farmfoods — detailing what happened, why the products were recalled, what the risks are, and how shoppers and experts have reacted:
Case Study 1 — Tesco Grape & Berry Medley Salmonella Recall
What Happened
- Product recalled: Tesco Grape & Berry Medley (230 g).
- Reason: The product was found to contain salmonella, a bacterium that can cause foodborne illness.
- Use‑by Dates affected: 16 Feb 2026 and 17 Feb 2026.
- Advice: Consumers who bought this item are advised not to eat it. Instead, return it to any Tesco store for a full refund. (FreshPlaza)
Health Risk & Impact
Salmonella infections can lead to symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal cramps
Symptoms typically appear within hours to a few days after ingestion. Vulnerable individuals (e.g., young children, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems) can sometimes experience more severe illness. (FreshPlaza)
Tesco removed the product from sale as a precautionary measure, and has advised customers to check their fridges if they recently bought this item. (FreshPlaza)
Public & Social Commentary
- Online community discussions noted that such fresh fruit mixes are often eaten the same day as purchase, so some people worried they might have already eaten affected portions before seeing the recall. (Reddit)
- Other commenters discussed how quickly such recalls propagate via social media versus official channels like supermarket apps or the Food Standards Agency’s alerts. (Reddit)
Case Study 2 — Lidl Snaktastic Multigrain Bites Choking Risk
What Happened
- Product recalled: Lidl GB Snaktastic Multigrain Bites (Sour Cream & Black Pepper) – 150 g.
- Reason: The product may contain pieces of foil, posing a choking hazard, and was declared unsafe to eat.
- Batch & Date: Batch code 207 345 with a best before date of 4 Apr 2026.
- Advice: Customers who have this product should not eat it and return it to Lidl for a full refund. (Food Standards Agency)
Health Risk & Impact
Pieces of foil in a snack pose a physical (choking) hazard, which can cause injury if swallowed. Because the risk isn’t about bacteria or contamination, the recall focuses on the immediate physical safety of consumers. (Food Standards Agency)
Public & Expert Reaction
- Food safety watchers have noted that physical contaminants like foil are harder to detect before distribution, which is why hotlines and supermarket notices urge immediate returns.
- Some food safety professionals suggest checking snacks carefully if packaging seems swollen or damaged, as physical contaminants sometimes enter during production. (General expert commentary based on recall norms)
Case Study 3 — Farmfoods Ritz Cheese Sandwich Allergen Recall
What Happened
- Product recalled: Ritz Cheese Sandwich – 91 g sold by Farmfoods.
- Reason: The product contains milk, soya and wheat (gluten) that are not emphasised on the label, making it a serious health risk for people with allergies or intolerances.
- Advice: Anyone with a sensitivity to milk, soya or gluten should not eat this product. Customers should return it to the store where it was bought for a full refund. (Food Standards Agency)
Health Risk & Impact
Undeclared allergens are one of the most serious issues in food safety:
- People with coeliac disease or specific allergies could have severe reactions, including anaphylaxis, if they unknowingly consume allergens like milk, soya or gluten.
- Labelling laws require that common allergens be clearly and prominently included on packaging. This recall highlights the importance of strict labelling compliance to protect vulnerable consumers. (Food Standards Agency)
Commentary & Context
- Food safety advocates have stressed that recalls due to labelling errors are among the most critical because affected consumers rely on accurate packaging to avoid dangerous reactions.
- Online allergy support communities often circulate these alerts quickly, warning members to throw out or return products that pose allergy risks. (General community reaction from allergy groups)
Why These Recalls Matter
1. Immediate Consumer Safety
- Salmonella outbreaks can lead to widespread illness if undetected; recalls help stop exposure early. (FreshPlaza)
- Physical hazards like foil in snacks can injure teeth or cause choking, making rapid recall important. (Food Standards Agency)
- Undeclared allergens can trigger severe allergic reactions — and recalls help avert potentially life‑threatening incidents. (Food Standards Agency)
2. Retailer Responsibility & Public Trust
- Retailers use point‑of‑sale notices, online alerts and store announcements to reach customers quickly.
- Many allow refunds without a receipt to prioritise safety over proof of purchase. (FreshPlaza)
3. Regulatory and Industry Feedback
- Food safety agencies like the Food Standards Agency (FSA) publish alerts and notices to inform the public about at‑risk products. These incidents demonstrate the importance of robust supply‑chain testing and accurate labelling.
- Industry observers sometimes comment that recalls — while disruptive — show the system working to protect consumers.
Summary of Key Recall Details
| Retailer | Product | Reason for Recall | Advice to Consumers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | Grape & Berry Medley (230 g) | Salmonella contamination | Do not eat; return for refund (FreshPlaza) |
| Lidl | Snaktastic Multigrain Bites | Possible foil pieces (choking risk) | Do not eat; return for refund (Food Standards Agency) |
| Farmfoods | Ritz Cheese Sandwich (91 g) | Undeclared milk, soya, wheat allergens | Do not eat if allergic; return for refund (Food Standards Agency) |