The FSA is advising people who have a peanut allergy to avoid eating any foods that contain or may contain mustard, mustard seeds, mustard powder or mustard flour because of potential contamination with peanuts.
These mustard ingredients have been found in food such as dips, sauces, salads and pre-packed sandwiches but other products are affected.
Food eaten out, including in catering settings like adult social care providers, could also be affected. This is why they are asking people with a peanut allergy, or their parents or carers, to check with those supplying the food whether it might contain mustard.
The FSA is urgently working with the relevant Local Authorities, individual businesses and industry to identify which products may be affected.
They have traced the contaminated mustard ingredients to three producers in India, including GT Agro Industries. These producers have supplied three spice companies in the UK; FGS Ingredients Ltd and two further companies, which have subsequently distributed the ingredients to a range of manufacturing, hospitality and retail businesses.
As they try to identify the individual products which may have been contaminated with these mustard ingredients and, because of the severity of some allergic reactions to peanuts, they are taking a precautionary approach so that people with a peanut allergy have up to date information about the potential risk and can take action to keep themselves safe. If mustard is present in a food, it should be labelled in bold on the packet because it is an allergen itself. If there is a risk that mustard could be unintentionally present in food there will be a ‘may contain’ label for mustard.
When they find an individual product is affected, they will issue a specific allergy alert on their website.
You can read more in their news story (27 September) and Q&A.
If you are in doubt, please reach out to your catering provider for further information
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