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Health chiefs have issued an urgent recall of a popular baby food product over fears it could pose a serious risk to children with allergies.
HiPP Organic UK is recalling its 7+ Months Vegetable Lasagne (190g) jars after it emerged the product contains celeriac (celery) that was not properly highlighted on the label.
The error means the allergen was not emphasised in bold within the ingredients list, as required by law – potentially putting babies with a celery allergy at risk.
The affected jars carry a best-before date of January 31, 2027, and batch code B49311. No other HiPP Organic UK products are believed to be impacted.
The baby food, which retails for around £1.25, is sold at major UK retailers including Boots and Ocado.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned: ‘This product contains celeriac, making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to celery.’
HiPP Organic said the issue was caused by a labelling mistake during a recent packaging update.
A spokesperson added: ‘The allergen celeriac has not been highlighted in bold within the ingredients list, which makes it a possible health risk for babies with an allergy to celeriac.’
HiPP’s 7+ Months Vegetable Lasagne jars have been pulled after celeriac (celery) was not properly emphasised on the packaging
Parents and carers of children with a celery allergy have been urged not to feed them the product.
Instead, customers can contact HiPP for a full refund by emailing hello@hipp.co.uk or calling 0800 298 4477.
Celery is one of the 14 major allergens that must be clearly indicated on food labels under UK law, typically through bold text, underlining or contrasting colours.
Although celery allergy is relatively uncommon in babies, reactions can range from mild symptoms such as rashes and itching to more severe responses including breathing difficulties, swelling and a rapid heartbeat.
Symptoms can appear within minutes or up to two hours after consumption, with severe cases requiring immediate medical attention.
The recall comes just days after a separate scare involving HiPP baby food in Europe.
Authorities in Austria launched an investigation after a jar of HiPP product was found to contain rat poison, prompting a large-scale withdrawal across more than 1,000 supermarkets.
The company said it believed the contamination was the result of ‘criminal interference’ within the SPAR Austria supply chain.
Police warned consumers to look out for jars with damaged lids, missing safety seals or unusual smells, while tests on similar products in neighbouring countries reportedly detected toxic substances.
HiPP stressed that the incident was isolated to Austria and not linked to its UK products.
