Doritos has issued an urgent recall of its Chilli Heatwave flavour after some packs were found to contain Tangy Cheese crisps instead, posing a possible health risk to customers with milk allergies. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced the recall, which affects 140g packs with batch code GBC 209 184C and a best before date of December 5, 2026.
What Happened?
PepsiCo, the manufacturer of Doritos, discovered that certain Chilli Heatwave packs were mistakenly filled with Tangy Cheese flavoured crisps. The Tangy Cheese variety contains milk, which is not listed as an ingredient on the Chilli Heatwave packaging. This mislabeling could trigger allergic reactions in individuals with milk intolerance or allergy.
The FSA stated: "This product contains milk, making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents." The agency has advised PepsiCo to recall the product from customers and to contact relevant allergy support organisations to inform their members.
Health Risks
According to Allergy UK, most allergic reactions to milk are mild, but moderate to severe reactions can occur. Mild symptoms include itchy mouth, tongue, and throat; swollen lips; red raised itchy rash; vomiting; nausea; and a runny nose with sneezing. Severe symptoms of anaphylaxis may include swelling of the tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or a change in voice, difficult or noisy breathing, and dizziness.
What Customers Should Do
PepsiCo is instructing customers who have purchased the affected packs to return them for a full refund. The company has also issued point-of-sale notices to retailers explaining the recall and advising consumers on next steps.
The FSA added: "PepsiCo is recalling the 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."
