Marks and Spencer recall chocolate treat over serious health risks: What you need to know

Marks and Spencer has urgently recalled one of its chocolate treats due to major safety concerns following a labelling error.

The supermarket giant, known for its range of delicious food including the iconic Colin the Caterpillar cake, has withdrawn its own brand chocolate cornflake mini bites from sale after it was discovered that some tubs contained nuts and gluten, which were not declared on the packaging.

This oversight could pose a serious health risk to anyone with nut allergies, coeliac disease or an allergy or intolerance to oats, wheat or gluten. In severe cases, consumption could even potentially be fatal.

The affected product comes in 180g packs, bearing the barcode number 00347884 and a best before date of August 6.

In light of this discovery, M&S has issued an urgent recall notice to customers who may have purchased the product, urging them to return it to their nearest store immediately for a full refund.

The company has also apologised to customers who bought the item and issued a point-of-sale notice to explain the situation and provide advice on what to do if they have been affected.

In a statement, the company said: "Please do not consume this product if you have an allergy or intolerance to hazelnut, oats or wheat flour. If you wish to exchange the product, you can return it to your nearest store where a full refund will be given,"  reports the Mirror.

"For more information contact us on 03330148555. We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused."

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has also highlighted the potential danger of the product to allergy sufferers, releasing a statement which states: " Marks and Spencer is recalling MandS Chocolate Cornflake Mini Bites because they contain hazelnuts (nuts), oats (gluten) and wheat (gluten), which are not mentioned on the label."

"This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to hazelnuts (nuts) and/or for anyone with coeliac disease and/or an allergy or intolerance to oats, wheat or gluten."

Unfortunately, Marks and Spencer isn't the only supermarket recently affected by labelling errors.

The latest recall follows one from Waitrose, who were forced to remove several cupcakes from their shelves, after coffee and walnut cakes were incorrectly packaged into chocolate cupcake packs.

If food products potentially endanger the public due to incorrect ingredients and allergy labels, the FSA generally issues a recall for the problematic items.

It's estimated that around 2 million people in the UK have a food allergy. Fatal reactions remain uncommon, but allergies can still pose a significant health risk to sufferers.

Therefore, it's crucial to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect you've come into contact with a known allergen.