Urgent warning to peanut allergy sufferers as hidden threat identified in everyday ingredient

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has issued an urgent warning to peanut allergy sufferers, advising them to avoid eating any products containing mustard. It comes after alerts were issued for affected products from Domino's and Aldi.

An urgent warning has been issued to anyone in Ireland with peanut allergies, advising them to not eat ANY products that list mustard as an ingredient.

It comes after undeclared peanut protein was discovered in mustard products imported from India to the UK.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued a precautionary alert today after being alerted to the issue by The Food Standards Agency in the UK.

It is urging those with peanut allergies to avoid eating any product that lists mustard as an ingredient. It advises carefully checking labels on pre-packed and non-pre-packed food items before consumption, as mustard is a priority food allergen in the EU and must be clearly listed when used.

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The UK’s FSA is currently investigating the source of the contamination and is working to identify the distribution chains for the affected products

Earlier this week, two food allergen alerts relating to Domino's and Aldi dips were issued, and the FSAI has warned that it may release further warnings if additional products are found to be at risk.

The Domino's alert stated: "Batches of Domino's Garlic and Herb dip and Domino's Honey and Mustard dip may contain peanuts that are not declared in the list of ingredients. This may make the affected batches unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of peanuts." The affected batches were all 100g and 25g packs provided up until Sunday, September 15, 2024.

The Aldi alert stated: "The above batches of Carlos Takeaway Garlic & Herb dip may contain peanuts that are not declared in the list of ingredients. This may make the batches unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of peanuts. The product is sold in Aldi stores." The affected batches were 100g packs with best before dates: 19/11/2024, 26/11/2024 and 02/12/2024.

Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies, which affects over 17 million people in Europe. Peanut allergy affects up to 2% of consumers in Ireland and is responsible for the majority of fatalities caused by food-induced anaphylaxis.

A spokesperson for the FSAI said: "The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has been notified by the Food Standards Agency, UK that batches of mustard powder and mustard flour imported to the UK from India have been found to contain undeclared peanut protein. In the interest of protecting consumers in Ireland, the FSAI, as a precautionary measure, is advising anyone with a peanut allergy or suspected peanut allergy not to eat any products containing mustard as an ingredient. The FSAI advises affected consumers to check labelling on products prior to consumption. Mustard is also a priority food allergen in the EU and therefore, must be declared for pre-packed food and for non-pre-packed food when used as an ingredient.

"The Food Standards Agency, UK is working urgently to ascertain the source and distribution chains for these batches. The investigation is ongoing and the FSAI is liaising closely with the UK agency. The FSAI has issued two food allergen alerts earlier this week linked to this contamination and it will issue additional food allergen alerts if any additional implicated products are found to be on sale in Ireland."

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