Why food gets recalled in the UK
Last reviewed 5 October 2026 against the sources listed below.
Food is recalled when it may be unsafe or its label could put someone at risk. These figures come from all 1,242 UK recalls and allergy alerts since 2018, grouped by reason. One recall can have several reasons.
Undeclared allergens: the biggest reason
707 alerts, about 57% of all, were because an allergen was missing from the label or labelled wrongly. Notices often describe the cause, for example the wrong product packed in a labelled pack, or a label not in English.
Bacteria, viruses, toxins and mould
Contamination with bacteria such as listeria, salmonella or E. coli, or with toxins or mould, or food not kept at the right temperature. These recalls apply to everyone who bought the product.
Foreign bodies and injury risks
Pieces of plastic, metal or glass, stones or insects, choking risks, and packaging faults such as cans that can burst.
Labelling errors
Wrong use-by dates, missing information or the wrong product in the pack.
Chemicals and unauthorised ingredients
Contamination with chemicals, too much of a nutrient (for example in supplements), or ingredients that are not allowed.
Unsafe production
Food produced without the required approval or safety controls.
Does a recall mean people got ill?
No. Many recalls are precautions, issued when testing finds a problem or a fault is spotted before anyone is affected. The notice explains the risk; this site quotes it on each recall page. See UK food recall statistics for trends.
Sources
- FSA Food Alerts data (all notices since 2018)
- GOV.UK (FSA): Food incidents, product withdrawals and recalls