Tesco has initiated a recall of its Celery, Fruit and Nut Salad (300g) due to an undisclosed ingredient that could trigger severe allergic reactions. The affected product, with a use-by date of December 2, 2025, was found to contain mustard, which is not listed on its label. This oversight presents a significant health risk for individuals with an allergy or intolerance to mustard, as highlighted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Customers who have purchased this specific salad and have a mustard allergy are strongly advised not to consume it. Instead, they should return the product to any Tesco store to receive a full refund. Tesco has issued a statement expressing regret for the inconvenience caused and confirmed that no other Tesco products are impacted by this particular recall.

The FSA, which is responsible for issuing food alerts, mandates recalls when there is a potential risk to consumers due to missing or incorrect allergy information on product labels. As part of this process, point-of-sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores selling the product, informing customers about the recall and the necessary steps to take if they have purchased it. Further information can be obtained by visiting Tesco's contact page on its official website.

Consuming mustard when allergic can lead to a range of symptoms, from mild to severe. Mild to moderate reactions may include hives, swelling of the face, lips, or eyes, tingling or itching in the mouth, mild throat tightness, stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhoea. However, in more severe cases, exposure can trigger anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Anaphylaxis UK, a charity dedicated to severe allergies, identifies the critical warning signs for anaphylaxis as 'ABC symptoms', standing for Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. Airway difficulties can manifest as swelling in the throat, tongue, or upper airways, a hoarse voice, and difficulty swallowing. Breathing problems include a sudden onset of wheezing, general difficulty breathing, noisy respiration, and a persistent cough. Lastly, circulation issues can present as dizziness, feeling faint, sudden sleepiness, confusion, pale clammy skin, loss of consciousness, or collapse.

While the precise number of individuals with a mustard allergy in the UK remains unknown, mustard is recognized as one of the 14 major allergens that must be explicitly declared on food labels or through provided information, such as menus, whenever it is used as an ingredient. Government figures indicate that approximately 2.4 million adults in the UK live with a food allergy, with hospital admissions for severe allergic reactions more than tripling over the last two decades. Tragically, an estimated ten Britons die annually from food allergies, and 5,000 people are hospitalized for severe reactions. A notable case involved 13-year-old Hannah Jacobs, who died in 2023 after consuming a hot chocolate from Costa Coffee that mistakenly contained cow’s milk, despite her severe allergies to dairy, egg, fish, and wheat. The inquest attributed her death to a 'failure to follow the processes' and 'failure of communication' between staff and her mother.