Tesco and Lindt recall chicken meals and Easter eggs as labelling mix-up sparks allergy fears

Tesco’s Oriental Kitchen Chicken Chow Mein product was incorrectly packed with Tesco Chicken Curry

'We are sorry for any inconvenience caused and customers can return the product to their local store for a refund,' a Tesco spokesperson said in a statement, attributing the mix-up to a 'manufacturing error' (Tesco)

Tesco is urgently recalling a batch of chicken meals and Lindt is recalling two batches of Easter eggs, because the products contain allergens that are not mentioned on the label.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Food Standards Agency said that Tesco’s Oriental Kitchen Chicken Chow Mein product was incorrectly packed with Tesco Chicken Curry.

As a result, a batch of the meals contain egg, milk, mustard and sesame, which are not mentioned on the label, presenting a health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused and customers can return the product to their local store for a refund,” a Tesco spokesperson said in a statement, attributing the mix-up to a “manufacturing error” and saying that 868 packets of the product were affected.

Separately, the FSA said that two batches of Lindt’s Excellence Dark Extra Fine Shell Egg and Lindor Strawberries & Cream Shell Egg were being recalled because they contain barley which is not mentioned on the label.

The FSA said that the products are a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to barley but do not pose a risk to consumers with coeliac disease.

A spokesperson for Lindt & Sprungli, the Swiss-based company that makes the eggs, said that its products were wrongly labelled as a result on "an error during the co-packaging process" and that the relevant eggs had been withdrawn from retailers, authorities had been informed and allergy support organisations had been contacted.

"We are of course terribly sorry for any inconvenience this has caused," the spokesperson added.

Earlier this month, Quorn recalled thousands of its vegetarian mince from supermarket shelves over fears it may contain pieces of metal.

Quorn said that 12,000 packs of its "Frozen Meat Free Mince", particularly popular with vegetarians, were affected.

In January, a criminal inquiry was launched into suspected tampering after a battery was found inside a chocolate Easter bunny, sparking Co-op to initiate a UK-wide recall of the 3,000 £1 bunnies sold.