Grocery stores issue urgent recall on popular lasagna dish after safety alert: 'Do not eat it'
And it was not the only product raising red flags.
Iceland Foods Ltd. recalled its Vegetable Lasagne, which may contain pieces of plastic, reported the Bournemouth Daily Echo in late March. The affected products had best-before dates of July 23, 2026, and July 30, 2026.
"If you have bought the above product do not eat it," the Food Standards Agency warned, per the news outlet. "Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund."
Another recall targeted a breakfast staple. Rude Health Foods Ltd. recalled its 400-gram boxes of Chocolate Crunch Granola with a best-before date of Oct. 24 after reports of insect contamination. Shoppers who purchased the product at Tesco, Ocado, Amazon, and other retailers were told to return it.
While a stray bug or bit of plastic could be an isolated finding, it spotlights a much bigger issue — the growing risks posed by mass production and heavy reliance on plastics in our food systems.
Plastic is increasingly used for packages in food manufacturing because it's cheap and easy to mold, but it's also prone to breaking and contaminating the very meals it's supposed to protect.
The problem doesn't stop with visible chunks. Over time, microplastics — tiny particles less than 5 millimeters in size — can enter food and build up in the human body. Scientists have found them in our blood, lungs, reproductive systems, and brains.
The long-term health effects of consuming microplastics are still being studied, but early findings suggest they may contribute to risks of inflammation, hormonal disruption, and chronic illness.
Food recalls serve as a public safety net, but they're reactive, not preventative. Calls are growing for more proactive solutions: tougher oversight of manufacturing standards, safer alternatives to plastic in food production, and transparent labeling.
Do you worry about how much food you throw away?
Definitely
Sometimes
Not really
Never
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
In the U.K., the Food Standards Agency enforces recalls and issues Food Alerts for Action when serious risks arise. Meanwhile, around the world, companies such as Aldi and McDonald's U.K. have already begun phasing out plastic in packaging and utensils.
Consumers can also take small steps, including choosing brands that use glass, metal, or compostable packaging and supporting legislation that limits plastic use in food production.
It's clear we need a shift. Our dinner should nourish us, not put our health at risk.
Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
Gut-Brain Disorders Surge After Pandemic
There's been a striking rise in disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia, since the COVID-19 pandemic, new survey data from the UK and the US showed. 'Healthcare providers should recognize post-COVID DGBI as part of the long COVID spectrum. These post-COVID gut problems appear more severe and require more medical care than similar pre-pandemic conditions,' Imran Aziz, MBChB, MD, honorary consultant gastroenterologist and senior clinical lecturer, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England, told Medscape Medical News . Aziz and colleagues surveyed a nationally representative sample of 4050 adults in the UK and the US in 2017 (pre-pandemic) and repeated the survey in 4002 adults in 2023 (post-pandemic). The surveys included the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire for DGBI and questions about nongastrointestinal somatic symptoms, anxiety and depression, quality of life, and healthcare use. The 2023 survey also asked about COVID-19 infection and illness history. The overall prevalence of DGBI (ie, meeting diagnostic criteria for at least one DGBI) increased significantly from the pre- to post-pandemic era (38% vs 47%; odds ratio [OR], 1.20), with similar findings independently noted in both countries. From pre- to post-pandemic, the rise in DGBI was observed within the esophageal (9% vs 10%; OR, 1.16), gastroduodenal (12% vs 16%; OR, 1.45), and bowel domains (30% vs 33%; OR, 1.12). Functional dyspepsia rose nearly 44% — from 8% to 12% (OR, 1.48) — and IBS increased 28% — from 5% to 6% (OR, 1.31). The rise in DGBI has been seen in both men and women and across all adult age groups. Multiple Factors at Play Aziz told Medscape Medical News the uptick is probably due to not only the direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the gastrointestinal tract but also to the psychological stress associated with pandemic life. 'In this study, we found that COVID-viral related factors contributing to DGBI include number of infections, abdominal pain and/or diarrhea during COVID-19 infection, and long COVID,' he explained. 'We also observed increased mood disturbances among people with DGBI in the post-pandemic era, but this study did not determine the direction of causality. Previous studies have shown that in one third of DGBI cases the mood disturbance precedes gut symptoms, while in two third of cases gut symptoms precede mood disturbances,' Aziz noted. The study was published online on July 30 in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology . The results are in line with a recent study that found the prevalence of IBS and chronic idiopathic constipation among US adults rose significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a near doubling of the national rate of IBS over 2 years, as reported previously by Medscape Medical News . Given a lack of high-quality clinical trials specifically for post-COVID DGBI management, 'healthcare providers should follow existing standard guidelines for functional dyspepsia and IBS,' Aziz advised. 'The established treatment protocols remain our best approach until more targeted research becomes available. It's also important to take a holistic approach. This means addressing not just the gut symptoms but also any accompanying mood disturbances. Many long-COVID clinics already provide this multiintegrated care model, which appears to be the most effective approach,' Aziz said.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Flintoff praises NHS staff who treated him after crash, as doctor says his injuries were 'among most complex' he's ever seen
Andrew Flintoff has praised the "love and compassion" of "superhero" staff in a visit to the hospital that treated him after his crash. The cricket legend was seriously injured during in Surrey in December 2022. He was airlifted to St George's in Tooting, with a surgeon calling Flintoff's injuries some of the most complex he's seen. "I just want to say a massive thank you to all the staff at St George's," said, as he returned to the London hospital. "I came here probably the lowest I've ever been, in need of help and the expertise, the love, the compassion they showed me was incredible. "I'll be eternally grateful - absolute superheroes." Jahrad Haq, a maxillofacial surgeon, said he knew immediately the case was something out of the ordinary. "I was on call that day and received a phone call from the emergency department consultant," said Mr Haq. "A lot of injuries are managed at a more junior level before escalating, so I knew this one was serious. "Of all the trauma cases I've seen in over 20 years, this was among the most complex." Flintoff was also pictured on his visit meeting lead dental nurse Linda Holden and principal orthodontic nurse Sonia Steer. Shamim Umarji, who also treated the 47-year-old, said it was "wonderful to see Freddie again and his visit gave staff a real boost". "He spent a lot of time chatting to everyone and it meant a lot," added the trauma and orthopaedic surgeon. Read more from Sky News: Flintoff previously described how he thought he had died in the accident - which saw him "pulled face-down on the runway" for about 50m under a three-wheel car. The incident led to the BBC pulling the plug on Top Gear and it remains unclear if it will ever return.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Always Unwell? A Huge New Study Suggests It Could Be Your Sleep Schedule
If you're always a little under the weather or find that you are more susceptible to illness than your peers, it may actually be because of your sleeping habits. A new study published in Health Data Science, analysed sleep data from 88,461 adults in the UK Biobank and found significant associations between sleep traits and 172 diseases including liver cirrhosis and gangrene Eek. The good news is, if you prefer to sleep for longer periods of time, you're still safe as the researchers state: 'Contrary to common belief, sleeping more than 9 hours wasn't found to be harmful when measured objectively, exposing flaws in previous research.' The real secret to better health is you sleep 'Our findings underscore the overlooked importance of sleep regularity,' said Prof. Shengfeng Wang, senior author of the study. 'It's time we broaden our definition of good sleep beyond just duration.' While sleep quality and duration can play a part, irregular sleeping patterns were the biggest sleep factor to disease – accounting for a startling 23% of the diseases linked to sleep. Researchers from Vanderbilt University reported that participants in the most irregular quartile faced a 53 percent higher risk of dying over eight years, even after adjusting for age, BMI, and existing illness. Sleeping after 12:30 a.m. was linked to a 2.57-fold higher risk of liver cirrhosis and inconsistent sleep-wake cycles more than doubled the risk of gangrene. Neuroscientist Dr Matt Walker said on the Huberman Lab podcast: 'Regularity is probably best for the continuity of your sleep. 'When you give [your brain] regularity, sleep starts to become more stable, more stable means that it's less likely to be littered with awakenings, meaning that it's better quality of sleep.' How to improve your sleep regularity The sleep experts at The Sleep Foundation advise: 'Pick a bedtime and wake-up time that you can stick with and that offer ample time for the sleep you need. Follow this schedule every day, even on weekends. It may take time to adjust to this new sleep schedule, which is normal. ' If you would prefer to gradually adapt to a new schedule, you can make 15 to 30 minute adjustments over a series of days to get used to the changes. They also recommend that your sleeping pattern should: Stay consistent from day-to-day Allow for at least seven hours of sleep each night Align as closely with day and night as your lifestyle allows Related... I Thought We Needed To Sleep Apart – Then Came The Scandinavian Method I'm A Sleep Expert – This 1 Change In Teens Can Be A 'Big Shock' For Parents Neurologist Shares The 1 Sleep Change That Could Reduce Dementia Risk
