Tesco and Waitrose Recall Products Over Allergy Concerns

Two major UK supermarkets have issued product recalls after concerns were raised about undeclared allergens in food sold to customers.

Tesco and Waitrose & Partners have both withdrawn products from sale because their packaging does not accurately identify ingredients that could cause allergic reactions or create health risks for people with food intolerances or coeliac disease.

The affected products are a Tesco Finest Caesar & Smoked Bacon Coleslaw and Waitrose & Partners Rhubarb Crumble. Customers who have certain allergies or intolerances are being advised not to eat the affected products and should return them to the relevant supermarket for a refund.

Food recalls involving allergens can be particularly important because a product may appear safe based on its packaging while containing an ingredient that has not been declared on the label.

Tesco recalls Caesar and smoked bacon coleslaw

Tesco has urgently recalled a specific batch of its Finest Caesar & Smoked Bacon Coleslaw.

The recall has been issued because some packs of the coleslaw may contain Tesco Finest Four Cheese Potato Salad instead. The potato salad contains mustard, but mustard is not declared on the affected coleslaw packaging.

This creates a potential health risk for people who have a mustard allergy.

Importantly, the recall does not apply to every packet of Tesco Finest Caesar & Smoked Bacon Coleslaw. According to the information provided by the Food Standards Agency, the affected product is the 270g pack with a use-by date of 4 September 2026.

Customers should check the product carefully before eating it, particularly if they or someone who may consume it has a mustard allergy.

What should Tesco customers do?

Anyone with a mustard allergy who has purchased the affected product should not eat it.

Instead, Tesco customers can return the product to a Tesco store for a full refund. A receipt is not required, according to the recall information.

Tesco has also stated that no other Tesco products are affected by this particular recall.

The supermarket has apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused by the withdrawal.

Why an undeclared mustard ingredient matters

Mustard is one of the ingredients that can trigger an allergic reaction in susceptible people. Reactions can vary considerably between individuals.

Some people may experience relatively mild symptoms, while others can develop a serious allergic reaction requiring urgent medical attention.

Possible allergy symptoms can include skin reactions, digestive problems and swelling. In severe cases, a person can experience anaphylaxis, which is a potentially life-threatening reaction.

This is why accurate food labelling is so important. Even a small amount of an undeclared allergen can pose a serious risk to someone with a severe allergy.

Consumers with food allergies are generally advised to check product labels carefully and pay attention to official recall notices when they are issued.

Waitrose recalls Rhubarb Crumble

Waitrose & Partners has also announced a recall involving one of its desserts.

The supermarket is recalling its Rhubarb Crumble because the product contains oats and gluten that are not correctly identified on the packaging.

The affected dessert is sold in a 500g pack and has a use-by date of 19 August 2026.

The product also carries home-freezing instructions, meaning customers who froze it may potentially have been planning to consume it later. The recall information advises eligible customers not to eat the product if they have an allergy or intolerance to oats or gluten, or if they have coeliac disease.

No other products or batches are understood to be affected by this particular Waitrose recall.

Who should avoid the Waitrose product?

The recalled Rhubarb Crumble may be a concern for several groups of consumers.

People with an oat allergy should avoid the product because oats are present but are not correctly identified on the packaging.

Those with a gluten intolerance should also take note of the recall because the product contains gluten that is not properly declared.

The recall is particularly important for people with coeliac disease. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition in which consuming gluten can damage the lining of the small intestine and lead to a range of symptoms and health complications.

Symptoms associated with coeliac disease can include abdominal pain, digestive problems, diarrhoea and tiredness, although symptoms can vary between individuals.

People who have been diagnosed with coeliac disease are normally required to follow a strict gluten-free diet, making accurate ingredient and allergen information particularly important.

What should Waitrose customers do?

Customers who have purchased the affected Rhubarb Crumble and have an oat or gluten allergy or intolerance, or coeliac disease, are being advised not to eat it.

The product should instead be returned to a Waitrose store for a refund.

Waitrose has apologised to customers and said the recall was necessary because of the incorrect allergen information.

Consumers should check the product details carefully rather than assuming that all Rhubarb Crumble products are affected. The recall applies specifically to the identified product and batch information.

What food recalls mean for shoppers

Food recalls are generally issued when a manufacturer, retailer or food safety authority identifies a problem that could make a product unsafe.

Allergen-related recalls are particularly significant because incorrect packaging can prevent consumers from making informed decisions about what they eat.

A product does not necessarily have to contain a harmful substance to be recalled. In cases such as these, the issue can be incorrect or incomplete information on the label.

For people without the relevant allergies or intolerances, the recalled products may not present the same level of concern. However, consumers should still follow the official recall instructions.

If you regularly purchase allergy-sensitive foods, it can be useful to keep an eye on supermarket announcements and notices from the Food Standards Agency.

Check your kitchen if you shop at Tesco or Waitrose

Customers who regularly buy prepared salads, desserts and other chilled foods may want to check their refrigerators and freezers following these recalls.

For the Tesco product, check whether you have the 270g Finest Caesar & Smoked Bacon Coleslaw with a use-by date of 4 September 2026.

For Waitrose, check whether you have the 500g Rhubarb Crumble with a use-by date of 19 August 2026, particularly if you have frozen the product for later consumption.

If you have a relevant allergy or intolerance, do not rely on appearance or taste to determine whether the food is safe. Follow the official recall guidance and return the affected product to the retailer.

Final takeaway

The latest Tesco and Waitrose recalls highlight why shoppers with food allergies, intolerances or coeliac disease need to take product recall notices seriously.

Tesco's affected coleslaw may contain mustard because some packs could have been incorrectly filled with Four Cheese Potato Salad. Waitrose's Rhubarb Crumble contains oats and gluten that are not correctly declared on its packaging.

Consumers who fall into the affected groups should not eat the recalled products and should return them to the relevant supermarket for a refund.

Keeping track of official food safety announcements and checking product information can help reduce the risk of accidental exposure to undeclared allergens.

Source

Food Standards Agency, Tesco and Waitrose & Partners.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general information and awareness purposes only. Food recall details can change, so consumers should check the latest information from the Food Standards Agency, Tesco or Waitrose & Partners before consuming an affected product. Anyone experiencing a severe allergic reaction should seek emergency medical assistance immediately.