Food Standards Scotland published update 12 of its allergy alert on 12 November 2024, announcing that several brands are recalling spice products containing mustard because they may contain peanuts that are not mentioned on the label1. The alert was reissued in further updates on 14 November (updates 13 and 14) and 20 November (update 17), each carrying the same product description and consumer advice2.
The alert states that the products "may contain peanuts making them a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to peanuts"1. The risk is listed as "Peanuts"1. The products are sold under several different brand names at several different retail stores, and point of sale notices will be displayed where the products were sold1. The individual products affected are set out in Annex A of each update, and the point of sale notices in Annex B; the annexes are published as separate documents alongside each update1. The alert says it should be read in conjunction with FSS-AA-036-2024 (Update 12) and FSS-AA-038-2024 (Update 1)1.
Food Standards Scotland's consumer advice is that anyone with a peanut allergy who has bought any of the affected products should not eat them, but return them to the store where they were bought for a full refund1. The brands involved have been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall1.
"Several brands are taking the precautionary step of recalling several spice products that contain mustard, because they may contain peanuts which are not mentioned on the label."
Why it matters for households
The recall affects households that have bought the spice products named in Annex A, which are sold under several brand names at several retailers1. The risk applies specifically to people with a peanut allergy, for whom the products are described as a possible health risk1. Food Standards Scotland advises those with a peanut allergy not to eat the affected products and to return them to the store of purchase for a full refund1. Shoppers may see point of sale notices at the places where the products were sold, explaining why the recall has been made and what to do1. The alert does not name the individual products or brands in its main text; these are listed only in Annex A1.
What happens next
Food Standards Scotland has published successive updates to the alert, the most recent dated 20 November 2024, each with a revised Annex A product list and Annex B point of sale notices4. No closing date for the recall is given in the updates. Households can check the current product list in the latest Annex A, and general information on food allergy is available through the food hub.
Sources (4)
- Update 12: Several brands recall products containing mustard because they may be contaminated with peanut | Food Standards Scotland, foodstandards.gov.scot
- Update 13: Several brands recall products containing mustard because they may be contaminated with peanut | Food Standards Scotland, foodstandards.gov.scot
- Update 14: Several brands recall products containing mustard because they may be contaminated with peanut | Food Standards Scotland, foodstandards.gov.scot
- Update 17: Several brands recall products containing mustard because they may be contaminated with peanut | Food Standards Scotland, foodstandards.gov.scot
