A NEW and serious reminder to people who have a peanut allergy comes from the Food Standards Agency (FSA): keep avoiding food which list mustard as an ingredient.

It was way back on 20th September when the FSA first warned that a supplier of mustard was selling a product contaminated by peanuts. The mustard was supplied to a range of manufacturers in the UK who, unwittingly, were unwittingly sending out products containing peanuts which were not included in the lists of ingredients.

People with a serious peanut allergy can become extremely ill, even from encountering a trace of peanuts. Unless they receive immediate treatment, the allergic reaction can be fatal. The FSA had to act fast to identify where the problem was coming from and how far it had got into the UK food market.

The FSA has now reported that it has traced the problem to three suppliers in India. The contaminated product has been sold to FGS Ingredients Lrd – and two distribution companies, who have suppliedit to a range of food producers and hospitality outlets. The FSA has now publicised 66 product recalls, and it is likely that more recalls will come in the next few days.

For now, the FSA is advising anyone with a peanut allergy to avoid foods containing mustard, mustard seeds, mustard powder or mustard flour. They should also check with shops or takeaways whether mustard is included in prepared or takeaway foods. This may restrict their choice when it comes to buying prepared foods, but at the moment there is no way of knowing just how far this contaminated product reaches into the food chain.

The FSA is urging food retailers to check their products carefully. It is asking anyone who suffers an allergic reaction to report this to the business who sold the product and to the relevant Local Authority.

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