Recall date: 23 March 2023
Waitrose has recalled GoVeggie Tomato & Mozzarella Arancini because it contains wheat (gluten) which is not mentioned on the label. This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with coeliac disease, and/or an allergy or intolerance to wheat .
Product details
GoVeggie Tomato & Mozzarella Arancini | |
Pack size | 300g |
Use by | 23 March 2023 |
Risk statement
This product contains wheat (gluten) making it a possible health risk for anyone with coeliac disease, and/or an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten.
Action taken by the company
Waitrose is recalling the above product and will contact allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall.
The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers to explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.
Advice to consumers
If you have bought the above product and have coeliac disease, and/or an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten, do not eat it. Instead return it to the store from where it was purchased for a full refund. Alternatively, you can contact Waitrose Customer Care on 0800 188 884.
Possible health affects
Coeliac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten. This damages your gut (small intestine) so you are unable to take in nutrients. Coeliac disease can cause a range of symptoms, including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating.
Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune disease that occurs in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide, but only about 30% are properly diagnosed.
It can strike anyone at any time, including those who were not previously sensitive to it. Similar to lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivity can affect any member of the human population regardless of their age.
Gluten intolerance or non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, as it is also known, shares some of the same symptoms as coeliac disease but is a less severe condition. Gluten intolerance can still cause considerable discomfort, however, and people sometimes use lifestyle changes to try and manage its symptoms.
Gluten intolerance is often mistaken for coeliac disease but they are separate conditions. Coeliac disease is a severe autoimmune disease, and it can damage a person’s digestive system.
Unlike coeliac disease, however, it is unclear why the symptoms of gluten intolerance happen, but it does not appear to involve the immune system or damage the gastrointestinal or GI tract.
People also tend to mistake gluten intolerance for a wheat allergy.
A wheat allergy can be life-threatening, as some symptoms can impair breathing or cause a loss of consciousness, which is not the case with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance.
The symptoms of gluten intolerance are less severe than coeliac disease or a wheat allergy, and much less is known about the condition.
There are six main symptoms of a gluten intolerance. Many of these symptoms occur shortly after consuming gluten. However, the exact combination of symptoms can vary by person.
People who report gluten intolerance note the following symptoms as some of the most commonly occurring ones when they include glutenous foods in their usual diet. These symptoms usually disappear after an hour but if symptoms persist, professional medical advice should be sought.
- · Diarrhea and constipation, bloating
- · Abdominal pain
- · Fatigue
- · Nausea
- · Headaches
For further information on allergen symptoms see here.
Waitrose apologises that it has been necessary to recall this product and for the inconvenience caused to customers as a result.