Aldi, Waitrose, Asda Recall Multiple Products Over Allergy Risks and Spoilage Warnings

When Waitrose customers opened their Indian takeaway-style meal boxes in late July 2025, some found spring rolls inside that weren’t listed on the label—ones containing sesame and soya, two of the most dangerous allergens. That discovery triggered one of the most complex recall chains in UK food safety history, pulling in Aldi, Asda, and even a tofu supplier. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) didn’t mince words: these weren’t just labeling errors. They were potential life-threatening oversights.

Undeclared Allergens: The Silent Killer in Your Pantry

For people with food allergies, a missing ingredient isn’t a minor inconvenience—it’s a countdown. The Fishmonger Soy Ginger Fusions Tuna, sold by Aldi, was pulled on 15 August 2025 after tests confirmed wheat gluten was present but unlisted. That’s not a typo. It’s a hazard. Wheat gluten can trigger anaphylaxis in sensitive individuals. Same with Waitrose & Partners Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta—375g packs with a use-by date of 27 August 2025—where mustard, a known allergen, was completely absent from the label. Mustard allergies are rising across Europe, and reactions can be swift: swelling, vomiting, even respiratory collapse.

The Waitrose Indian takeaway for two (1,412g box, sell-by 25 July 2025) was even more alarming. Consumers were sold a meal that contained spring rolls with sesame and soya—both top-10 allergens—but the packaging listed neither. Anaphylaxis UK reports that soya reactions can be delayed, meaning someone might eat the meal, feel fine for hours, then suddenly struggle to breathe. That’s the kind of scenario that keeps public health officials awake at night.

Waitrose’s Recalls: A Pattern or an Accident?

Waitrose didn’t just have one problem. It had four major recalls between July and October 2025. There was the THIS ISN’T Chicken Deli Pieces with undeclared wheat and soya. The Egg and Spinach Protein Pot pulled over Salmonella concerns. Then the Jolly Hog - Leek Porkers sausages, recalled for undeclared milk. And finally, the Good Grips Pasta Scoop Strainer—yes, a kitchen tool—recalled because it contained carcinogenic primary aromatic amines (PAA) above legal limits. That last one? It wasn’t even food. But it was sold alongside food, and that’s enough to trigger a recall.

“This isn’t a one-off,” said Dr. Lena Patel, a food safety analyst at the University of Leeds. “When a retailer has this many distinct recalls across different product categories in under four months, you start asking questions about supply chain controls. Was there a system failure? Or is this the cost of rapid expansion?”

Waitrose issued apologies for each recall. “We’re deeply sorry for the inconvenience,” read their notice on the Indian takeaway. But apologies don’t unmake the risk. The FSA’s point-of-sale notices—posted in stores, emailed to loyalty members, and pushed via app alerts—were far more urgent: “Do not consume. Return for full refund.”

Asda’s Date Mix-Up and Aldi’s Hidden Gluten

While allergens dominated headlines, Asda had its own issue: a simple but dangerous date error. Their 10 Mini Duck Spring Rolls with Hoisin Dip were labeled with a use-by date of 29 December 2025—when the real date was 29 November 2025. That’s a full month of extra shelf life. Consumers might have eaten spoiled product, risking food poisoning. The product was sold between 13 July and 17 October 2025. That’s thousands of units. And no one noticed until a routine audit flagged the mismatch.

Meanwhile, Aldi had already pulled Ashfields 30 Day Matured Thin Cut Beef Steaks on 18 October 2025 because milk wasn’t declared on the label. Milk allergies affect nearly 2% of adults in the UK. For those with severe reactions, even trace amounts can be fatal. This was the second major allergen recall for Aldi in 2025. The first? A batch of vegan cheese with undeclared dairy.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Keeps Happening

Here’s the twist: these aren’t random. They’re systemic. The UK’s food labeling laws are strict—but enforcement is stretched thin. The FSA oversees over 200,000 food businesses. In 2024, it issued 1,142 product recalls. That’s more than three per day. And the number of allergen-related recalls has jumped 47% since 2020, according to FSA data.

Supermarkets, under pressure to expand ready-meal lines and cut costs, often outsource production to third-party suppliers. One supplier mislabels a batch. That batch gets distributed to multiple stores. And because labeling is printed in bulk, a single error can echo across thousands of units before anyone catches it.

“We’re asking retailers to do more with less,” said Fiona Carr, a former FSA inspector. “They’re juggling hundreds of SKUs, dozens of suppliers, and shrinking margins. The system’s under strain.”

What’s Next? Consumer Action and Regulatory Pressure

Customers affected by any of these recalls are urged to return products immediately. Waitrose’s customer line—0800 188 884, Option 4—is staffed 24/7. Aldi and Asda have similar hotlines. No receipt needed. Just the product.

But beyond refunds, consumers are pushing back. A petition on Change.org, titled “Label It Right or Take It Off the Shelf,” has gathered over 12,000 signatures. Meanwhile, the FSA is reportedly reviewing its recall response protocols and may introduce mandatory digital batch tracking for high-risk allergen products by 2026.

For now, the message is clear: if you have allergies, read every label—every time. Even if you’ve bought the same product before. Because this year, “before” doesn’t guarantee safety.