Popular Biscoff treat PULLED from UK shelves over health risk fears as shoppers warned ‘do NOT eat’
A POPULAR Biscoff treat has been pulled from UK shelves over a health risk as some shoppers have been warned "do not eat".
Cheshire Farms has recalled certain batches of Biscoff Ice Cream due to the presence of undeclared hazelnuts.
The company had also initially issued the recall for its Caramelized Biscuit Ice Cream amid fears the foods could trigger allergic reactions in any of the hundreds of thousands of Brits with a tree nut allergy.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) stated: "Cheshire Farm is recalling Caramelized Biscuit Ice Cream and Biscoff Ice Cream because they contain hazelnuts which is not mentioned on the label.
"This means the products are a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to nuts.
"This recall has been updated to include the Biscoff Ice Cream."
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Cheshire Farm advised customers who have a nut allergy to not eat the product and to instead return them to the store it was purchased at for a full refund.
It said: "If you have bought the above products and have an allergy to nuts do not eat them."
The manufacturer also emphasised that it does not have any affiliation with the Lotus Biscoff brand and that its goods do not contain any Biscoff products.
The affected batches of Cheshire Farm's 1L Biscoff Ice Cream tubs are under codes L23139, with a best before date of 19 November, 2024, and L23261, with a best before date of 18 March, 2025.
Initially, the FSA had issued the warning for Cheshire Farm's 1L Caramelized Biscuit Ice Cream, under the batch code L24150, with the best before date of 29 November, 2025.
Food recalls are not uncommon and can arise for any reason when there may be a problem with a food product.
It may be withdrawn, where it is taken off shelves, or recalled, where customers are asked to return the product, the FSA said.
The agency added: "Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk.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."
Tree nut allergy affects 2% of children and 0.5% of adults in the UK, according to medical charity Allergy UK.
When someone has a tree nut allergy their immune system is reacting to the proteins in the nut.
It is most common to develop a nut allergy before the age of 5, however it is also possible for older children and adults to develop allergic symptoms, even when tree nuts have been eaten previously without any symptoms of allergy.
Allergies to tree nuts tend to be persistent and it is rare for people to grow out of them, especially over the age of five, according to the charity.