Urgent health warning to Brits over common food which could be 'deadly'

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued an urgent alert to Brits with a peanut allergy, warning them to avoid eating mustard as it may contain a potentially deadly allergen

People have been warned to be vigilant about what they eat following a health alert concerning a widely-consumed food product that may contain a life-threatening allergen.

Those with peanut allergies have been urged to steer clear of mustard, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which issued the warning in September. The FSA has been actively investigating to pinpoint products impacted by contaminated mustard ingredients sourced from GT Agro Industries, an Indian company.

Last month, Leicester-based FGS Ingredients announced it had conducted further tests on its supplies and confirmed there was "not detected any presence of peanut content or residue".

The FSA's head of incidents, Darren Whitby, commented: "Our advice still applies that those with a peanut allergy should avoid consuming products containing mustard as an ingredient until we identify the individual products affected.

"Parents and carers of children who have a peanut allergy should take care to check the labels of food they buy and, if eating out, or getting a takeaway, ask the restaurant or cafe about foods that might contain mustard. As soon as we have more information, we will update consumers.

"Ingredients containing mustard, which are often found in everyday foods like dips, sauces, salads and pre-packed sandwiches, have been reported to contain traces of peanut.

"This possible contamination could provoke critical reactions for those with a peanut allergy. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has thus urged food businesses to conduct a thorough review of their supply chains and promptly pull any products with the potentially tainted mustard from shelves."

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The FSA outlined that this counsel is dispatched as "a precautionary approach so that people with a peanut allergy have up to date information about the potential risk and can take action to keep themselves safe. "

In response, FGS Ingredients Ltd has called on its customers to cease sales of products containing the affected mustard ingredients. The firm reassures that peanuts are neither used in its spice blends nor permitted on the production site, emphasising strict safety measures to prevent the unintended presence of allergens.

The statement came from a spokesman who commented: "As a family-owned business that was established 74 years ago and is now in its third generation of leadership, we have grown to proudly become the principal supplier of natural spices to food producers across the UK and to businesses internationally, reports the Mirror.

"We have never previously been involved in any incident of food contamination. Nevertheless, we continue to support the FSA investigation in any way that is necessary."

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