Latest news with #allergy
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Waitrose issues ‘do not eat' warning for popular ready meal which poses allergy risk
Waitrose is recalling a popular ready meal after it said some products were 'mispacked', causing an allergy risk. The supermarket own-brand 'Indian takeaway for two' has been pulled from shelves because it contains sesame and soya, which are not mentioned on the label. According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which published the recall warning, the product is a health risk to anyone with an allergy to sesame or soya because spring rolls were mispacked in the box. All of the takeaway products sold in 1,412g boxes with the sell-by date 25 July 2025 are affected. No other products are affected by the recall. Those with an allergy to sesame or soya have been told not to eat the product and instead return it to their local Waitrose and Partners branch for a full refund. The FSA explained: 'Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk. When there is a food allergy risk, the FSA will issue an allergy alert.' A point-of-sale notice has also been issued to its customers. These notices explain why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. Soya is a food ingredient made from soy beans and is used to make soy sauce and tofu. Those with an allergy to soya can suffer an immediate reaction or a delayed reaction, according to Anaphylaxis UK. Symptoms of an immediate reaction include a rash, tingling or itching in the mouth, and swelling of the lips, eyes or face. It can also cause stomach pain and vomiting. Those who suffer from a delayed allergic reaction may experience stomach pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. Sesame seeds and sesame oil can cause allergic reactions, and these can sometimes be serious, Anaphylaxis UK said. In many cases, those who are allergic to sesame can experience a rash, known as hives, anywhere on the body. It can also trigger tingling or an itchy feeling in the mouth, swelling of the lips, face or eyes, and stomach pain and vomiting. In more serious cases, it can cause anaphylaxis, triggering swelling of the throat and breathing difficulties. Waitrose said in the recall: 'We apologise it has been necessary to recall this product and for the inconvenience caused.'
The Sun
15 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Major UK supermarket urgently recalls curry ready meals and warns ‘do NOT eat' over lethal health risk
AN urgent recall has been issued by a major supermarket as customers warned "do not eat". The recall affects a popular ready meal from Waitrose. It could pose an allergy risk as some packs have been misplaced and could contain undeclared allergens. The Waitrose Indian Takeaway for 2 was recalled because "some packs have been mispacked with spring rolls, which contain sesame and soya, which are not mentioned on the label" the FSA announcement said. This poses a health risk to anyone with sesame or soya allergies. Customers have been urged not to consume the product. Waitrose' recall notice instructs customers: "Do not consume. Package up item. Return the product to your local Waitrose and Partners Branch for a refund." It can be returned to your local Waitrose and Partners branch for a full refund. Customers can also contact Waitrose Customer Care on 0800 188 844, option 4, for more information. The signs of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis + what to do SYMPTOMS of an allergy usually occur within minutes of contact with with the offending food or trigger, but they can also come on up to one hour later. Most allergic reactions are mild but they can also be moderate or severe. Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction which can be life threatening. In some cases, anaphylaxis symptoms lead to collapse and unconsciousness and, on rare occasions, can be fatal so it's important to know how to recognise them and act quickly. Mild to moderate symptoms include: Itchy mouth, tongue and throat Swelling of lips, around the eyes or face Red raised itchy rash (often called nettle rash, hives or urticaria) Vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea Runny nose and sneezing Severe symptoms of anaphylaxis include: Swelling of your throat and tongue Difficulty breathing or breathing very fast Difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice Wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing Feeling tired or confused Feeling faint, dizzy or fainting Skin that feels cold to the touch Blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue – if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet Anaphylaxis and its symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency. Follow these steps if you think you or someone you're with is having an anaphylactic reaction: Use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one – instructions are included on the side of the injector. Call 999 for an ambulance and say that you think you're having an anaphylactic reaction. Lie down – you can raise your legs, and if you're struggling to breathe, raise your shoulders or sit up slowly (if you're pregnant, lie on your left side). If you have been stung by an insect, try to remove the sting if it's still in the skin. If your symptoms have not improved after 5 minutes, use a second adrenaline auto-injector. Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better. Sources: Allergy UK, NHS 2
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Thousands of people with debilitating hayfever to benefit from new drug
Tens of thousands of people in England are set to benefit from a new treatment that provides long-term relief for the symptoms of hayfever. Betula verrucosa, sold under the brand name Itulazax 12 SQ-Bet and made by Alk-Abello, is an under-the-tongue immunotherapy tablet that contains birch pollen extract. The drug trains the immune system to tolerate tree pollen over three years of daily use. It has been recommended as an option on the NHS for people whose hayfever symptoms persist even after taking antihistamines or using nasal sprays, by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). Severe tree pollen allergies can cause debilitating symptoms for some people during the spring and summer months, including fatigue, breathing difficulties, inflamed sinuses, itchy, watery eyes, and vision changes. Trials show the tablet can significantly reduce the symptoms of severe hayfever by changing how the body responds to allergens. The immunotherapy works by gradually increasing the body's tolerance to tree pollen through controlled daily exposure to small amounts of pollen. Before being given the tablets, patients will require skin prick or blood tests to confirm an allergy to birch tree pollen. Nice estimates that about 27,000 people in England are expected to benefit from the recommendation. Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said: 'This treatment will help improve people's quality of life. 'Severe tree pollen allergies trap people indoors during beautiful weather and disrupt their work, education and family life. 'The daily tablet offers genuine long-term relief rather than just managing symptoms.' According to Allergy UK, birch pollen allergy is estimated to affect about 25% of hayfever sufferers. Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK, said: 'Many people don't realise how awful it is having an itchy, runny nose, sneezing episodes or itchy, irritated eyes in the pollen season. 'We frequently hear from people who avoid time outdoors, keep doors and windows shut, check pollen counts and try and minimise any exposure, which takes a significant toll on their physical and emotional wellbeing. 'Nice's recommendation is so important because it provides a genuine opportunity for people to manage the root cause of their pollen allergy, offering the chance to break free from this burden and enjoy a better quality of life.' Emil Stage Olsen, general manager UK and Republic of Ireland at ALK, added: 'We welcome this positive Nice recommendation, which is another meaningful advancement for the UK allergy community. 'Our focus is now on working closely with the NHS to ensure eligible patients can benefit from this first-in-class immunotherapy.' The NHS in England will provide the treatment within three months of Nice publishing its final guidance.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Pregnant woman with seafood allergy forced off plane over tuna dish on in-flight menu after air steward said he 'wouldn't be dictated to'
A pregnant woman with a seafood allergy says she was forced off a plane after an air steward refused to stop selling a tuna dish on the in-flight menu and told her he 'wouldn't be dictated to'. Abbey Holling and her mother were left stranded in Corfu after 'vile' easyJet staff allegedly ignored her concerns about her life-threatening airborne allergy before 'belittling' them in front of the entire plane. In a post on Facebook detailing her ordeal, Ms Holling, 24, said an air steward told her he was refusing to stop selling products with tuna in them, adding: 'I've been working since 4:00. I have a Tuna salad I want to eat so I will be eating that.' A video filmed by a fellow passenger showed how one of the air crew told Ms Holling: 'We are legally entitled to a meal break and I won't have customers dictate to me what I can or can't eat.' She now worries the incident has 'caused strain and stress on my pregnancy', adding staff made her feel 'vulnerable' and 'sick to my stomach'. The chaos unfolded on a plane from the Greek island to Manchester on Tuesday evening. Ms Holling said she had informed easyJet prior to the flight about her allergies, although the airline disputes this. It has reimbursed her for extra costs incurred as a result of the incident and is investigating, a spokesperson said. She described initially being 'reassured' by a member of the crew who told her no products containing sea food would be sold during the flight. But a second member of staff then approached her and her mother and said the products would in fact be sold. After asking to speak to the in-flight manager, who Ms Holling described as 'vile', she said she informed him that she was at risk of death if the products were sold on the flight. She claims she even offered to buy all the affected products to avoid any loss of revenue to the airline, but says this was also refused. The plane was then turned around so the pair could disembark from the plane, but Ms Holling accused the manager of further 'belittling' them by refusing to tell fellow passengers the cause of the delay. 'He announced it over the speaker saying 'we are turning this around because two people don't want to fly with us' tonight,' she said. 'He didn't explain why I couldn't be on the flight and so everyone began booing, swearing, tutting, and making us feel uncomfortable.' Ms Holling and her mother were eventually able to travel back to the UK on Thursday, two days later than planned. She said that once they were ready to disembark the plane, one of the pilots made an announcement, saying: 'The reason we are delayed is because we won't stop selling Tuna sandwiches.' A spokesperson for easyJet told the BBC that 'safety is our highest priority'. They added: 'As Ms Holling only notified us of her tuna allergy once on board and subsequently did not travel, we are looking into how this was managed onboard. 'We have been in touch with her to apologise and understand more about her experience, and reimburse her alternative travel expenses.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Firm sold product with nuts to allergic customer
A small business owner has been fined for serving products containing nuts to a customer with a severe allergy. Samantha Brauner, the owner of Small's Kitchen in Derby, sent an online order of protein balls to a customer in May 2024, triggering an allergic reaction. Derby City Council Trading Standards said the customer had repeatedly asked if the products contained nuts, but Brauner said they did not. At Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on Monday 30 June, 36-year-old Brauner, of Alport Heights in Oakwood, pleaded guilty to two charges and was fined more than £7,200. Trading Standards said Brauner narrowly escaped a custodial sentence due to her early guilty plea to supplying unsafe food with undeclared allergens, and selling food which was not of the nature, substance, or quality demanded by the purchaser. She was fined £1,920, ordered to pay costs of £4,515, and given a victim surcharge of £768. Regulatory services lead councillor Shiraz Khan said the sale "could have had disastrous consequences" and that the prosecution "serves as a reminder to other businesses that they need to take their allergen management responsibilities seriously". Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Related internet links Derby City Council Trading Standards
