Tesco has emailed customers about a popular brand of crisps that has been withdrawn from sale due to a manufacturing error. The supermarket is contacting anyone who purchased Doritos Chilli Heatwave, as some packets contain an unlisted ingredient that could pose a risk to individuals with specific allergies.
Certain packs may have been filled with the incorrect product, which contains milk. Instead of Chilli Heatwave, they have been packed with Tangy Cheese.
Recall details
The Food Standards Agency's warning applies to 140g packs bearing the batch code GBC 209 184C and a best before date of December 5, 2026.
In the email, Tesco stated: "We're writing to make you aware that you may have recently bought a product from Tesco (listed below), which has now been recalled. If you've bought a product listed here, please do not eat/drink/use it. We'll shortly be updating our online product recall page with more details, and further information on what to do next. Please see tesco.com/zones/product-recall. In the meantime, if you have any further questions, please ask at your local store or visit our contact us page at tesco.com/help/contact."
The Food Standards Agency stated: "This product contains milk, making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents. 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."
What to do if you bought the product
The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers. These notices explain why the product is being recalled and tell customers what to do if they have bought the product.
"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 to receive a full refund, please contact PepsiCo Consumer Care Line on 0800 274777 or visit contact.pepsico.com/walkers."
Health background
Dairy allergies impact two to three per cent of youngsters and rank amongst the most prevalent childhood food allergies. Dairy intolerance (typically lactose intolerance) is far more widespread in adults. Across the UK, approximately 5% to 15% of adults of Northern European ancestry suffer from lactose intolerance, although this figure rises dramatically amongst Britons with African, Asian, or Mediterranean backgrounds.
Cow's Milk Allergy Symptoms (Immune Response) usually appear very quickly (within minutes to two hours of consuming dairy), though some digestive symptoms can be delayed by a few hours. Skin reactions include raised, red, itchy rashes (hives/urticaria), swelling of the lips, face, or around the eyes. Respiratory symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, or a persistent cough. Digestive symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, or sudden diarrhoea. Severe Allergy (Anaphylaxis): On rare occasions, a true milk allergy can cause a life-threatening reaction. Seek emergency medical care immediately if someone experiences difficulty breathing or wheezing, swelling of the tongue/throat, difficulty swallowing, or dizziness and collapse.
Lactose Intolerance Symptoms (Digestive Response) typically kick in anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours after eating or drinking dairy. Because it isn't an immune reaction, it will never cause hives, facial swelling, or breathing difficulties. Symptoms include bloating and a tight, uncomfortable stomach, excessive flatulence (wind), tummy gurgling, rumbling, or painful cramps, loose, watery diarrhoea, and feeling sick or nauseous.
