Major UK supermarkets pull granola after 'do not eat' warning over undeclared peanuts and gluten
Spoon Cereals recalls 400g Cinnamon and Pecan Granola, batch M5244, after mispackaging raises risk for people with peanut allergy or coeliac disease
Supermarkets across Britain have removed a popular granola product from shelves and the Food Standards Agency issued a "do not eat" warning after the maker said the cereal may contain undeclared peanuts and gluten.
Spoon Cereals has recalled its 400g Cinnamon and Pecan Granola with batch code M5244 and best-before dates of 22 May 2026 and 26 May 2026. The product, sold at retailers including Waitrose, Ocado and Morrisons, has been taken off sale and customers are being advised to return affected packs for a full refund.
In a statement, Spoon Cereals said a small number of packages from one batch were mispackaged by a co-packer and may contain peanuts and gluten. The company warned the product poses a risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to peanuts or gluten, including people with coeliac disease, and provided an email address for further queries: spoon@spooncereals.co.uk.
The FSA said the business had issued point-of-sale notices to customers explaining the recall and advising purchasers what to do. The regulator reiterated that peanuts are one of 14 allergens that must be declared on packaging under UK law and that undeclared allergens can pose a serious health risk.
Health experts and campaigners have repeatedly highlighted how small amounts of allergenic proteins can trigger severe reactions. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include swelling, hives, difficulty breathing and dizziness; those experiencing such symptoms after consuming the product are urged to seek immediate medical help. For some people, exposure can lead to anaphylaxis, a rapid, life-threatening reaction.
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition in which ingestion of gluten damages the small intestine. It is estimated to affect about one in 100 people in the UK. Nut allergies are among the most severe food allergies and are thought to affect roughly one in 50 children and one in 200 adults in the country. More broadly, around 6% of UK adults — about 2.4 million people — are believed to have a confirmed food allergy.
Undeclared allergens have in the past had fatal consequences. In 2016, a 15-year-old named Megan Lee died after ordering food that did not disclose peanut content; the restaurant owners were later convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence. The death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse in 2017, after eating a pre-packed baguette containing sesame, prompted new UK labelling rules known as Natasha's Law, which require clearer allergy information on pre-packed foods made on-site.
Campaigners and bereaved families have continued to press the government for stronger allergy safety measures and improved NHS services. More than 50 campaigners and experts, including public figures, have called for the appointment of an "allergy tsar" to coordinate policy, awareness and care for the millions of Britons living with allergies.
Retailers and manufacturers are legally responsible for ensuring that declared ingredients are accurate on packaging. The FSA and Spoon Cereals advised customers who have purchased the affected granola not to eat it and to return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Anyone with concerns about exposure or who is experiencing symptoms should seek urgent medical attention.