Food giant John West is recalling tins of fish amid fears they may be unsafe to eat. UK supermarkets are clearing their shelves of certain types of tinned sardines, although John West has not said exactly what the risk is.
The products affected are the 95g boneless sardines in sunflower oil and 120g normal sardines in olive oil, which John West said may pose a "microbiological contamination risk". The tins are sold in most Uk supermarkets, including Morrisons, Waitrose, Tesco, Ocado and Co-op.
The following batch codes are affected: 109, 110, 111, 112 and 113, all best before December 2026.
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John West said: "We are undertaking extensive scientific testing to identify the cause of the potential contamination. We would like to stress that this recall is purely a precautionary measure. The safety of our products and the wellbeing of consumers is our highest priority. Therefore, whilst the potential risk to consumers is extremely low, we are recalling all cans from those batches as a precaution. None of John West’s other products are affected by this recall. We apologise to all our shoppers for any inconvenience or concern this causes."
The last time John West had to recall food was back in February 2020 - also sardines.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) regulator said: "If you have bought either of the above products do not eat them. Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund."
Product recalls occur when there may be an issue with the food item that means it should not be sold - this could be in relation to various potential dangers including contamination, misleading or incorrect labels and allergens. Reasons for recalls include the wrong ingredients being used, contaminants including small pieces of glass and metal and wrong 'use-by' dates.
If you've bought a product that's been recalled, you have the right to a refund thanks to the Consumer Rights Act. The retailer that sold it should offer you a full refund, even if it's been in your cupboard or freezer for a while. Even if you've already consumed the product or thrown it away, you are still entitled to a refund if you can provide proof of purchase such as a receipt, bank statement, or online order confirmation.
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