Urgent Recall of Baby Food Product Due to Allergen Risk
Health authorities have issued an urgent recall of a popular baby food product due to concerns that it may pose a serious risk to children with allergies. The affected product is HiPP Organic UK’s 7+ Months Vegetable Lasagne (190g) jars, which have been found to contain celeriac (celery) that was not properly highlighted on the label.
The issue stems from a labelling error during a recent packaging update. The allergen, celeriac, was not emphasised in bold within the ingredients list, as required by law. This oversight could put babies with a celery allergy at risk, as they may unknowingly consume the product.
The recalled jars carry a best-before date of January 31, 2027, and batch code B49311. It is important to note that no other HiPP Organic UK products are believed to be impacted by this issue. The baby food, which retails for around £1.25, is available at major UK retailers such as Boots and Ocado.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned that the product contains celeriac, making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to celery. A spokesperson for HiPP Organic UK explained that the mistake occurred during a recent packaging update, stating: “The allergen celeriac has not been highlighted in bold within the ingredients list, which makes it a possible health risk for babies with an allergy to celeriac.”
Parents and carers of children with a celery allergy have been advised not to feed them the product. Customers who have purchased the affected jars can contact HiPP for a full refund by emailing [email protected] or calling 0800 298 4477.
Celery is one of the 14 major allergens that must be clearly indicated on food labels under UK law. These allergens are typically highlighted through bold text, underlining, or contrasting colours. While celery allergies are relatively uncommon in babies, reactions can range from mild symptoms such as rashes and itching to more severe responses, including breathing difficulties, swelling, and a rapid heartbeat.
Symptoms can appear within minutes or up to two hours after consumption, and severe cases require immediate medical attention. This recall comes just days after a separate incident involving HiPP baby food in Europe.
Authorities in Austria launched an investigation after a jar of HiPP product was found to contain rat poison, prompting a large-scale withdrawal across more than 1,000 supermarkets. The company suggested that the contamination was the result of ‘criminal interference’ within the SPAR Austria supply chain.
Police in Austria warned consumers to look out for jars with damaged lids, missing safety seals, or unusual smells. Tests on similar products in neighbouring countries reportedly detected toxic substances. However, HiPP stressed that the incident was isolated to Austria and not linked to its UK products.
