PepsiCo is recalling Doritos Chilli Heatwave crisps after a packaging mistake meant some packs could contain a potentially dangerous ingredient. The recall affects 140g packs with batch code GBC 209 184C and a best before date of December 5, 2026. Instead of Chilli Heatwave, some packs have been filled with Tangy Cheese, which contains milk—an ingredient not declared on the label.
Health Risk for Allergy Sufferers
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned that the product contains milk, making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents. Milk allergies affect two to three per cent of young children and are among the most common childhood food allergies. Lactose intolerance is much more common in adults, affecting around 5% to 15% of adults of Northern European descent in the UK, with significantly higher rates among those of African, Asian, or Mediterranean heritage.
What to Do If You Have the Product
The FSA advised: "If you have bought the product and have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, do not eat it. Instead return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund." For more information or a refund, consumers can contact the PepsiCo Consumer Care Line on 0800 274777 or visit contact.pepsico.com/walkers. PepsiCo has also issued point-of-sale notices to customers explaining the recall.
Symptoms of Milk Allergy and Intolerance
Cow's milk allergy symptoms usually appear within minutes to two hours of consuming dairy and can include skin reactions like hives or swelling, respiratory issues such as a runny nose or cough, and digestive problems like nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, or sudden diarrhoea. In rare cases, a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can occur, requiring emergency medical care. Lactose intolerance symptoms, which are digestive rather than immune-based, typically appear 30 minutes to a few hours after consumption and include bloating, flatulence, stomach cramps, and loose, watery diarrhoea.
