The Food Standards Agency is urging shoppers to check their cupboards and fridges
Several leading supermarkets across Britain, including Tesco and Lidl, have launched urgent product recalls on three common grocery items this week, urging shoppers not to consume them. The alerts come after safety issues were flagged that could present health hazards to certain customers.
One key product is reported to contain a toxin called cereulide, with parents specifically cautioned against feeding it to infants. The Food Standards Agency UK (FSA) is calling on customers to examine their kitchen cupboards and refrigerators for the implicated goods.
Anyone who has purchased these items is being told “not to eat” them and should take the products back to shops for a complete refund. Details of this week's recalled products are listed below.
Tesco is withdrawing three pâté lines after they were deemed unsafe owing to incorrect use-by date labelling, which could create a microbiological hazard if consumed. The items in question are Tesco Coarse Farmhouse Pâté, Coarse Ardennes Pâté, and Smooth Chicken Liver Pâté.
Packages bearing a use-by date of January 5 should not be eaten. Shoppers are urged not to “consume” these items and to take them back to their local store for a full refund.
Tesco Coarse Farmhouse Pate
- Pack size: 170g.
- Use by: January 5 2026.
Tesco Coarse Ardennes Pate
- Pack size: 170g.
- Use by: January 5 2026.
Tesco Smooth Chicken Liver Pate
- Pack size: 170g.
- Use by: January 5 2026.
Lidl GB has issued a recall for its Deluxe Red Cabbage with Apple, Dried Cranberry and Spices following an alert from the Food Standards Agency on January 6. The product contains milk, but this allergen is not clearly marked in bold on the label, posing a potential risk to those with milk allergies.
Lidl has expressed regret over the oversight and confirmed that no other products are affected by this issue. The supermarket chain has advised customers to return the item to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.
- Pack size: 480g.
- Batch code: All.
- Use by: All date codes.
In another food safety concern, Nestlé has recalled several SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula due to the possible presence of a serious toxin.
A spokesperson for Nestlé stated: “The safety and well-being of babies is our absolute priority. As a precautionary measure, Nestlé is voluntarily recalling specific batches of its SMA infant formula and follow-on formula.
“This is due to the potential presence of cereulide in the batches concerned. Batch codes can be found on the base of the tin or box for powdered formulas or the base of the outer box and on the side/top of the container for ready-to-feed formulas.”
Cereulide is a toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus and is highly heat-resistant, meaning it is not destroyed by cooking, boiling water or preparing infant milk. If ingested, it can cause a rapid onset of illness. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.
If you have purchased one of these batches, take a photo of the product and the batch code and share it via https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/getintouch or call the careline on 0800 0 81 81 80 (UK) 1800 931 832 (Ireland).
SMA Advanced First Infant Milk
- Pack size 800g.
- Batch code 51450742F1 52319722BA 52819722AA.
- Best before May 2027.
SMA Advanced Follow-On Milk
- Pack size 800g.
- Batch code 51240742F2.
- Best before May 2027.
- Batch code 51890742F2, 52879722AA.
- Best before *Updated July 2027.
SMA Anti Reflux
- Pack size 800g.
- Batch code 51570742F3.
- Best before June 2027.
- Batch code 52099722BA.
- Best before April 2027.
- Batch code 52099722BB, 52739722BA.
- Best before June 2027.
SMA ALFAMINO
- Pack size 400g.
- Batch code 51200017Y3.
- Best before April 2027.
- Batch code 51210017Y1, 51220017Y1.
- Best before *Updated May 2027.
- Batch code 51250017Y1, 51390017Y1, 51420017Y2, 51430017Y1, 51460017Y1.
- Best before May 2027.
- Batch code 51690017Y2, 51690017Y3, 51700017Y1, 51710017Y1, 51740017Y1.
- Best before June 2027.
- Batch code 52760017Y5, 52790017Y1, 52860017Y1.
- Best before October 2027.
- Batch code 53100017Y3, 53110017Y1, 53140017Y1, 53140017Y2, 53150017Y1.
- Best before November 2027.
SMA First Infant Milk
- Pack size 800g.
- Batch code 51170346AA, 51170346AB.
- Best before April 2027.
- Batch code 51340346AB.
- Best before May 2027.
- Batch code 51580346AA, 51590346AA, 51590346AB.
- Best before June 2027.
- Batch code 52760346AB, 52760346AD, 52780346AA, 52750346AE.
- Best before October 2027.
SMA First Infant Milk
- Pack size 400g.
- Batch code 51350346AA.
- Best before May 2027.
- Batch code 52750346AD.
- Best before October 2027.
SMA First Infant Milk
- Pack size 1.2kg.
- Batch code 51340346BE.
- Best before November 2026.
- Batch code 52740346BA, 52750346BA.
- Best before April 2027.
SMA LITTLE STEPS First Infant Milk
- Pack size 800g.
- Batch code 51220346AD.
- Best before May 2027.
- Batch code 51540346AC.
- Best before June 2027.
- Batch code 52740346AD.
- Best before October 2027.
SMA Comfort
- Pack size 800g.
- Batch code 52620742F3.
- Best before September 2027.
- Batch code 51240742F3, 51439722BA, 51479722BA, 51769722BA, 52049722AA.
- Best before May 2027.
SMA First Infant Milk
- Pack size 200ml.
- Batch code 52860295M, 52870295M, 52870295M, 53030295M, 53040295M.
- Best before October 2026.
- Batch code 53220295M, 53230295M, 53070295M, 53080295M.
- Best before November 2026.
SMA First Infant Milk
- Pack size 70ml.
- Batch code 53170742B1.
- Best before November 2026.
SMA Lactose Free
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- Pack size 400g.
- Batch code 51500346AB.
- Best before May 2027.
- Batch code 53299722BA.
- Best before August 2027.
- Batch code 51150346AB, 51719722BA, 51759722BA, 51829722BA, 51979722BA, 52109722BA, 53459722BA.
- Best before April 2027.