Retailers including Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Primark, Asda and Home Bargains have issued recall notices alongside alerts from national safety regulators.
The Food Standards Agency and the Office for Product Safety and Standards have urged customers to check cupboards, wardrobes and play areas and to stop using or eating the affected goods immediately.
This comes after earlier product warnings were issued across UK supermarkets for items ranging from drinking mugs to baby sleeping bags.
Marks & Spencer and Tesco recall
Shoppers have been warned not to eat three Marks & Spencer products and two Pinch ready meals sold at Tesco after manufacturer Greencore identified Salmonella contamination in pistachio nuts.
The Food Standards Agency confirmed that urgent recall notices have been displayed in stores nationwide.
The three affected Marks & Spencer lines are:
- M&S Super Nutty Wholefood with a Soy & Ginger Dressing (200g), product code 00797016, use-by dates up to October 10.
- M&S Nutrient Dense Nutty Super Wholefood (285g), product code 00961035, use-by dates up to October 11.
- M&S Fresh Collection Pistachio Pesto (115g pot), product code 29526743, use-by dates up to October 13.
The wider recall also covers two Pinch brand ready meals manufactured by Greencore and sold exclusively at Tesco:
- Pinch Pan Poppin’ Chicken Pasanda & Nutty Pilau Rice (400g), barcode 5051873005819, use-by dates up to October 10.
- Pinch Bangin’ Butter Chicken & Nutty Pilau Rice (400g), barcode 5051873005796, use-by dates up to October 10.
Symptoms caused by Salmonella include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.
Anyone who becomes infected is advised to stay away from work, school or nursery for at least 48 hours after symptoms clear to avoid spreading the illness.
Marks & Spencer said: “Please do not consume this product. Any customers in possession of these products can return it to their nearest store where a full refund will be given.
“Only the displayed date codes are impacted. No other M&S products are affected.
“We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused.”
Customers seeking further details can contact M&S customer services on 03330148555.
Primark recall
Shoppers have been warned to wear gloves and masks after Primark issued a recall for two Halloween decorations over asbestos contamination.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards issued an urgent alert after testing revealed the sand filling inside Witch Mini and Pumpkin gonks may contain a small amount of asbestos.
The affected products fail the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
The two recalled decorations are:
- Witch Mini gonk, model number 991174794, barcode 212047125.
- Pumpkin gonk, model number 991179148, barcode 212080261.
An OPSS spokesperson said: “The products have been withdrawn from the market and recalled from end users by Primark.
“We recommend owners stop using the product immediately and keep out the reach of children.”
Asbestos is a banned substance linked to life-threatening conditions including asbestosis, which causes severe breathing difficulties and can enlarge the heart.
Asbestos-related illnesses are responsible for roughly 5,000 deaths in the UK each year.
Primark has withdrawn the items and told customers to return them to any Primark store for a full refund without needing proof of purchase.
If the decoration is undamaged, it should be placed into a heavy-duty plastic bag, double taped, clearly labelled and stored out of reach of children until it can be returned.
If the item is damaged and sand filling is exposed, shoppers are advised to wear gloves and a mask, wipe the surrounding surface with a damp cloth to prevent dust spreading, and seal the product, gloves, mask and cloth inside a double bag.
Customers who cannot return the item to a store should contact their local authority for guidance on hazardous waste disposal.
Asda toxic footwear recall
Asda has withdrawn five outdoor footwear lines after routine safety checks found toxic chemicals exceeding statutory limits.
Safety officials classified the men’s hiking shoes and boots as posing a serious chemical risk under case notification number 2610-0025.
Testing found concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in breach of the REACH Regulations 2008.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards warned that prolonged exposure to PFAS compounds may pose health risks and cause damage to the reproductive system.
The five affected footwear lines across two colours are:
- Khaki Hiker Boot (£36), article numbers 1100226294 and 1100245442.
- Khaki Hiker Shoe (£28), article number 1100243431.
- Grey Hiker Boot (£36), article number 1100264858.
- Grey Hiker Shoe (£28), article number 1100226297.
Asda said: “At the time of shipment, this product successfully passed all required tests.
“However, subsequent testing has identified that it may contain PFAS at levels exceeding the permitted regulatory limit.”
The supermarket stated that no injuries or health incidents have been reported, but urged customers to return the shoes to any Asda store for a full refund without a receipt.
Shoppers can contact Asda Customer Relations on 0330 053 0111.
Asda children’s tent recall
Asda has also recalled a children’s play tent after discovering a defect that leaves young users at risk of becoming trapped.
Safety inspectors warned that the ASDA Kidz Pop Up Bear Tent fails to meet the mandatory requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
The defect involves the tent zip closure, which safety officials confirmed creates a potential entrapment hazard during use.
Trading Standards logged the alert under case notification number 2609-0244.
The product carries barcode 5063717171192 and product code 506371717119.2026, and had recently been sold on promotion for £8.40, reduced from £18.00.
Asda issued an apology to customers: “The product is found to be non-compliant with relevant toy safety regulations and can pose a risk of entrapment due to the zip closure.
“If you have purchased the Kidz Pop Up Tent – Bear (Barcode: 5063717171192, Product Code: 506371717119.2026), please bring it back to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund.
“You do not need your receipt.”
Parents and carers are instructed to stop using the tent immediately and keep it out of reach of children.
Home Bargains biscuit recall
Home Bargains has pulled two imported festive biscuit products after manufacturer Lambertz confirmed allergens were not printed on the packaging in English.
The Food Standards Agency issued an Allergy Alert warning of health risks for people with food intolerances and allergies.
The affected lines sold at Home Bargains are:
- Lambertz Mini Spekulatius (150g), best-before date August 30, 2027.
- Lambertz Christmas Tree Cookies (160g), best-before date May 17, 2027.
The FSA stated: “These products contain barley and wheat (gluten), hazelnuts (nuts), milk, lactose and whey (milk) and lecithin (soya), and they may contain egg, lupin, other nuts, peanuts, and sesame, making them a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to barley or wheat containing gluten, or with coeliac disease, an allergy or intolerance to egg, milk or milk constituents, an allergy to lupin, peanuts, nuts, sesame and/or soya.”
Anyone who bought the biscuits and has an allergy or intolerance has been urged not to eat them.
Shoppers can return the items to any Home Bargains store for a full refund, or contact customer support by emailing support@homebargains.co.uk.
What is a product recall?
When a problem is discovered with an item, products can either be withdrawn from shelves or recalled from consumers.
A withdrawal removes stock from sale in shops, while a recall asks customers who have already bought the item to return it.
The Food Standards Agency monitors food safety alerts, while the Office for Product Safety and Standards oversees consumer product safety notices across the UK.
Retailers display point-of-sale notices in stores and publish recall guidance online explaining why products have been removed.
Anyone who has purchased a recalled product should stop using or consuming it immediately and follow the retailer’s instructions to claim a full refund.
