The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued an allergy alert for Doritos Chilli Heatwave tortilla chips after a packing error led to some packs containing the wrong seasoning, posing a health risk to individuals with milk allergies. The recall affects 140g packs sold across the UK, including in all major supermarkets, smaller shops, and off-licences.
Packing Error Causes Undeclared Milk
The FSA confirmed on July 17, 2026, that some packs of Doritos Chilli Heatwave may contain Tangy Cheese seasoning instead of the intended Chilli Heatwave seasoning. The Tangy Cheese variant contains milk, which is not listed in the ingredients on the label. This mislabeling means the product poses a risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents.
PepsiCo, the owner of Doritos, stated in the recall notice: "Although this product includes precautionary allergen labelling for milk, milk is not included in the ingredients list and therefore the product poses a risk to people with an allergy to milk."
Affected Batch Details
Only Doritos Chilli Heatwave 140g packs with a batch code of GBC 209 184C and a best before date of December 5, 2026, are affected by this error. PepsiCo confirmed that no other batch codes with the same best before date are impacted. Customers are advised to check the back of the packet for the batch code and best before date to determine if their product is part of the recall.
Consumer Guidance
Consumers who have purchased an affected pack are urged not to eat the product and to return it to the store where it was bought for a full refund. For further information, the PepsiCo Consumer Care Line can be reached by phone at 0800 274777 or online at contact.pepsico.com/walkers. The FSA also noted that PepsiCo has issued a point-of-sale notice to inform customers and has contacted relevant allergy support organizations to disseminate the recall details.
Recall Scope and Response
The recall applies to packs sold in England, Scotland, and Wales. The FSA emphasized that the product is widely available across the UK, including in all major supermarkets. A full list of food recalls can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.
