Sep 20th, 2024
7 mins
On 20th September 2024 the BFFF received the following alert from the Food Standards Agency. Please read thoroughly and follow the steps as instructed should you be affected.
IMPORTANT: As this is a developing incident, please also ensure you check the FSA alert regularly for the most up-to-date information.
Read the FSA alert here: Urgent Allergy Advice: Mustard Ingredients Contaminated with Peanuts | Food Standards Agency
FSA alert received 20th September 2024:
Mustard Powder Contaminated with Peanuts
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are aware that batches of mustard, mustard powder and mustard flour imported to the UK have been found to contain undeclared peanut. This could be a significant food safety issue, because peanut allergy is prevalent in the UK and anaphylactic reactions can be severe. We are aware of a consumer that has had an adverse reaction to mustard powder that is potentially a result of this contamination.
Mustard, Mustard powder and mustard flour are widely used in food production and the FSA in conjunction with FSS is currently carrying out investigations to determine the scale of this incident and understand the impact on the UK food supply chain and to consumers.
At this time, contaminated mustard, mustard powder and mustard flour is known to have been used in numerous products in the UK. These mustard ingredients can be found in food such as dips, sauces, salads and pre-packed sandwiches.
Food businesses are responsible for establishing whether any of their food products are affected and, where this is the case, taking steps to ensure consumers are protected and the food they sell is safe.
Businesses should complete traceability exercises to identify products (or ingredients used in products) containing mustard, mustard powder and mustard flour because they may have been contaminated with peanut.
The distributor in the UK is FGS Ingredients Ltd and the affected batch was supplied by G.T. Agro Industries, Gujarat, India, but businesses should also carry out traceability exercises on any mustard, mustard powder and mustard flour that has been imported from India.
Where products are identified, product-specific risk assessments should be carried out to determine whether they could contain mustard, mustard powder and mustard flour that has been contaminated with peanut.
Product labelling should be checked to determine whether it is sufficient to manage the potential risks of peanut contamination, for example peanut is an ingredient in the product and therefore already in the ingredients list on the label.
Where potentially contaminated products are identified, and product labelling is not considered sufficient to manage the risk, food businesses should establish risk management interventions on a case-by-case basis, based on a risk assessment taking into account individual circumstances. Product testing to determine levels of any peanut present may be necessary to inform the risk assessment.
If a food business identifies any product containing mustard, mustard powder or mustard flour that has been contaminated with peanut and product labelling does not manage the risk to consumers, the product should be withdrawn, and a recall should be issued.
Products still within the control of the food business or supply chain should be relabelled to ensure the risk of peanut contamination is sufficiently communicated to consumers before being placed on the market.
Food businesses should also ensure that any future supply of mustard, mustard powder and mustard flour does not contain undeclared peanut before further processing/production takes place.
Due to the uncertainty and variability of the levels of contamination in affected mustard powder batches, and the wide range of products that may contain the contaminated mustard powder, it is not possible for the FSA or FSS to recommend a safe level of peanut in affected products or provide risk management advice. Risk management action must be determined by product specific risk assessments.
Businesses affected by this issue are required to inform their local authority (LA).
We ask that businesses respond promptly to any notifications or instructions from suppliers or LAs to withdraw/recall products from the market and, when asked, to provide other information in relation to the incident.
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