A BARGAIN supermarket chain has urgently pulled a children’s chocolate treat from the shelves over “health risk” fears.
The government’s Food Standards Agency issued a nationwide alert about The Smileys Surprise Egg, sold by Heron Foods, which has 330 stores across the North and the Midlands.
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The eggs contain a hidden ‘surprise’ gift for kids.
The FSA warned: “This product contains hazelnuts, making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to nuts.
“They could suffer serious health problems because hazelnuts are not mentioned on the label.”
People who are allergic to nuts and come into contact with some can go into anaphylactic shock.
In extreme cases, and without urgent treatment, their throats could balloon and they might choke to death.
Their immune system starts to collapse, blood pressure drops and their airway can tighten so they can’t breathe and lose consciousness.
Less severe reactions include hives, eczema or swelling and rashes on the skin, runny nose and sneezing, red or watery eyes, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
The Anaphylaxis Campaign, which helps sufferers, said: “Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction affecting more than one body system such as the airways, heart, circulation, gut and skin.
“Symptoms can start within seconds or minutes of exposure to the food or substance you are allergic to and usually will progress rapidly. On rare occasions there may be a delay in the onset of a few hours.
“The common causes include foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, shellfish, fish, sesame seeds and kiwi fruit, although many other foods have been known to trigger anaphylaxis.
“There may also be a dramatic fall in blood pressure (anaphylactic shock).
The person may become weak and floppy and may have a sense of something terrible happening.
“This may lead to collapse, unconsciousness and – on rare occasions – death.”
The FSA gave details of the product at the centre of the scare: The Smileys Surprise Egg Pack size All packs Batch code all Best before 30 August 2025.
They said: “Heron Foods is recalling the above product from customers and has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall.
“The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.
“If you have bought the product and have an allergy to hazelnuts (nuts), do not eat it.
“Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.
“For further details please contact [email protected].”
Heron Foods, based in Melton, East Yorkshire, said: “We have one of the fastest changing ranges of discounted products in the UK.
“Our great range of everyday items cost less because we buy them in huge volume.
“We’ve been buying from our suppliers for over thirty years meaning we can negotiate huge discounts – savings that we then pass on to you.
“So call in today in any one of our 330 shops throughout the North and Midlands and bag big name bargains for less.”
What to do if you have anaphylaxis
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one (instructions are included on the side of the injector).
- Call 999 for an ambulance and say that you think you’re having an anaphylactic reaction.
- Lie down – you can raise your legs, and if you’re struggling to breathe, raise your shoulders or sit up slowly (if you’re pregnant, lie on your left side).
- If you have been stung by an insect, try to remove the sting if it’s still in the skin.
- If your symptoms have not improved after five minutes, use a second adrenaline auto-injector.
Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better.
Source: NHS
