BRITS who shop at Aldi have been urged to check their cupboards for tins which could pose a serious health risk.
Hundreds of tins of tuna are being recalled as they contain an allergen not listed on the back of the product, the Food Standard Agency (FSA) said.
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“Our supplier is recalling The Fishmonger Soy and Ginger Fusions Tuna because the product contains an undeclared allergen (wheat),” Aldi said in a notice to customers.
Wheat contains gluten which is dangerous to those with a gluten intolerance or who have coeliac disease.
The supermarket has asked anyone who bought the tins to return them to their nearest Aldi store for a full refund.
The recall covers all 80g tins with the barcode: 4088600300276.
Read more on coeliac disease
“We apologise that this product did not meet our normal high standards and thank you for your co-operation,” it added.
Around one per cent of Brits have coeliac disease but only 36 per cent are diagnosed, according to Coeliac UK.
The charity estimates around half a million people in the UK are currently undiagnosed.
Coeliac disease causes the immune system to attack the body’s own tissues when you eat gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye.
This damages the gut, preventing the body from taking in nutrients properly.
Symptoms include diarrhoea, tummy pain and bloating, as well as indigestion, constipation, tiredness, weight loss, an itchy rash, infertility or nerve damage.
Patients who continue to eat gluten over time can suffer long-term gut damage, weakening of the bones and iron deficiency.
Many other conditions including non-coeliac gluten sensitivity also need a gluten-free diet and it is now estimated that at least 10 per cent of UK consumers are following this diet.
The FSA issues alerts if there is a problem with food products which should not be sold.
This could be because it has been contaminated with something, such as mould or metal, or it carries an incorrect ‘use-by’ date.
What happens if someone with coeliac disease eats gluten by mistake?
The reaction to eating gluten varies from person to person.
In some people, it may trigger symptoms that last several days, while others might not experience any symptoms at all.
The amount of gluten someone eats affects the degree of gut damage and your individual sensitivity to gluten affects the symptoms you may or may not experience.
You may also find that your symptoms differ in type and/or severity compared to before you were diagnosed.
If a mistake is made and you have gluten by accident, it is unlikely to cause any long-term gut damage, although you may suffer from diarrhoea, abdominal pain or vomiting so it is important to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
You may find taking medication to treat constipation, diarrhoea or headaches can ease your symptoms.
Speak to your GP or pharmacist for further advice.
Source: Coeliac UK
