Birds Eye has urgently recalled a popular garlic bread product over fears it could be dangerous to those with severe dairy allergies.
Food safety watchdogs stuck a ‘do not eat’ alert on a batch of Goodfella’s Stonebaked Thin Garlic Bread sold in Co-op for as little as £2.50.
It is feared the frozen snack was mistakenly packed and actually contains cheese.
The ingredients are not featured on the label and may pose a risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which published the alert, issues recalls when problems are spotted with food that means it should not be sold.
Birds Eye Ltd — which owns the Goodfella’s brand — said the recall only affected its 218g pack, with the batch code 5020 and best before date of December 2025.
While the product is available in other supermarkets including Tesco and Asda, the impacted packs are only sold in Co-op.
The manufacturer added: ‘No other batch codes or other Goodfella’s products are affected.
Food safety watchdogs stuck a ‘do not eat’ alert on a batch of Goodfella’s Stonebaked Thin Garlic Bread sold in Co-op for as little as £2.50
‘Goodfella’s apologises for any inconvenience caused. If you have bought any of the above batch codes, please do not consume.
‘Instead, return the packaging to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.
‘Alternatively, take a photo of the packaging which shows the impacted batch code and send this, with your name, address and contact details to us via the Goodfella’s online ‘Contact Us’ form.
‘Or cut out the part of the packaging with the batch code and post this item to us.’
The FSA also added: ‘Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product.
‘These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.’
People who cannot consume milk are either allergic to the proteins in cow’s milk or they cannot digest the sugar in the product, known as lactose intolerance.
Milk allergy symptoms can range from a rash, itching and swelling on the skin to vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea that starts within minutes of eating or drinking items that contain dairy.
Birds Eye Ltd said the recall only affected its 218g pack, with the batch code 5020 and best before date of December 2025
However, those who suffer from delayed cow’s milk allergy may not have any symptoms until two days after exposure.
In severe cases, it can cause anaphylaxis — a severe, life-threatening reaction when swelling in the throat can block the airways.
A milk allergy can be diagnosed by a person’s immediate reaction to milk, as well as skin, blood and breath tests.
Around three in 100 babies have a cow’s milk allergy but most grow out of it during their childhood.
Older children and adults who are allergic to cow’s milk tend to have a more serious allergy.
