A popular brand of biscuits has been urgently withdrawn from shelves after a warning was issued stating “Do not consume”.
Whatever Brands has recalled several Oreo products due to serious health concerns – they may contain peanuts.
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Shoppers have been warned about five Oreo treats from Indonesia because they are not properly labelled.
They may contain traces of peanuts that are not listed in the ingredients list.
The Food Standards Agency, a government health agency, today explained the Oreo warning, saying: “Whatever Brands is recalling several Oreo products because they may contain peanuts not mentioned on the label.”
“This only affects products sold in the UK with a Whatever Brands label.
“They pose a potential health risk to anyone who has a peanut allergy.”
The affected products include Oreo Dark & White Chocolate pack size 119.6g Best before date: 14, 15, 20 and 23 March 2025.
Oreo Strawberry Cream pack size 119.6g best before 15.03.2025 was also recalled.
And the best-before date for Oreo blueberry ice cream in the 119.6 g pack size (best-before date November 1, 2024) has been abolished.
In addition, Oreo Cream Chocolate Cookie pack size 119.6g with a best before date of September 15, 2024 have been withdrawn from stores.
Meanwhile, the Oreo Vanilla Cookie Pack in size 119.6g (best before 06.09.2024) has also disappeared from stores.
The FSA said: “Whatever Brands is recalling the above products from its customers and has been instructed to contact the relevant allergy support organisations who will inform their members of the recall.”
“The company has also sent a recall notice to its customers. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have purchased the products.”
Whatever Brands’ official statement states: “In the UK, we are recalling a limited number of Oreo products in the flavours Dark & White Chocolate, Strawberry Cream and Blueberry Cream Ice Cream, Cream Chocolate and Vanilla Cookie from Indonesia because they are not correctly labelled.”
“The products are being recalled because they may contain traces of peanuts that are not mentioned on the label.”
“Affected stock is labelled with Whatever Brands Limited.
“No other Oreo products are affected. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.”
“If you have purchased an affected Oreo product, please do not consume the product and contact our Careline team for further information.”
The signs of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis
Symptoms of an allergy usually appear within a few minutes of contact with the allergenic food or trigger, but they can occur up to an hour later.
Most allergic reactions are mild, but they can be moderate or severe.
Anaphylaxis is the most serious form of allergic reaction and can be life-threatening.
Mild to moderate symptoms include:
- Itching in the mouth, tongue and throat
- Swelling of the lips, around the eyes or on the face
- Red, raised, itchy rash (often called hives, wheals or urticaria)
- Vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea
- Runny nose and sneezing
Severe symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
- Swelling of the throat and tongue
- Difficulty breathing or very rapid breathing
- Difficulty swallowing, tightness in the throat or hoarseness
- Wheezing, coughing, or loud breathing
- Tiredness or confusion
- Feeling weak, dizzy or fainting
- Skin that feels cold to the touch
- Blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue – if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to spot on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet
Anaphylaxis and its symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency.
Follow these steps if you think you or someone near you is having an anaphylactic reaction:
- Use an epinephrine auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one – Instructions can be found on the side of the injector.
- Call an ambulance on 999 and say you think you are having an anaphylactic reaction.
- Lie down. You can put your legs up and if you have trouble breathing, hunch your shoulders or sit up slowly (if you are pregnant, lie on your left side).
- If you have been stung by an insect, try to remove the stinger if it is still in the skin.
- If your symptoms do not improve after 5 minutes, use a second epinephrine auto-injector.
Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better.
Sources: Allergy UK, NHS
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