Waitrose has issued an urgent recall of its 4 Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns after discovering that the product contains barley not listed on the packaging.
The supermarket chain is warning customers with barley allergies to avoid eating the buns carrying a best-before date of 06 June 2026.
Waitrose has reached out to allergy support organisations to ensure their members are informed about the recall.
The Food Standards Agency has issued an allergy alert in response to the labelling error, explaining that the undeclared allergen poses a potential health hazard for individuals with barley sensitivity.
Waitrose stated: "Do not consume. Package up the item. Return the product to your local Waitrose & Partners branch for a refund."
The FSA added that shoppers can bring the product back to any Waitrose store to receive their money back, with no proof of purchase necessary.
Those seeking further information or assistance regarding the recall can contact Waitrose Customer Care on 0800 188 884, selecting option 4.
Barley belongs to a group of cereals that contain gluten, alongside wheat, rye and oats.
According to Allergy UK: "Some people also react to other grains such as rye and barley, which contain similar proteins to wheat."
Reactions to these grains can manifest in various ways, including immediate allergic responses, delayed allergic reactions, coeliac disease, and gluten sensitivity.
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The charity notes that medical professionals typically advise patients on whether they need to eliminate multiple grains from their diet.
Under British food labelling regulations, manufacturers are legally obligated to declare barley and other allergens on all packaged and processed food products.
Days ago, the dessert brand Gü also recalled its Double Sea Salted Caramel Frozen Dessert due to the possible presence of hazelnuts and soya lecithin not declared on the label.
The affected product comes in a 2 x 85g pack size, with lot number 126135 and a best-before date of 30 June 2027.
Consumers with nut or soya allergies face a potential health risk from the mislabelled frozen treat.
Those who have purchased the dessert should not eat it and can return it to the shop where it was bought for a complete refund without needing a receipt.
Customers requiring additional information can email recall@gupuds.com.
About allergy alerts
Sometimes there will be a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold.
Then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product).
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.
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