Just Eat issues 'do not eat' warning for hundreds of popular products

Popular food delivery app Just Eat has issued an urgent warning to customers in response to contamination of host of food products.

A number of products containing mustard traces have undeclared peanuts in them, posing a danger to consumers with allergies.

Mustard powder and flavouring is a common ingredient in numerous sauces, dips, salads and pre-packed sandwiches sold on the delivery app.

The Just Eat warning, which has now been issued to both British and Irish customers, follows similar alarm from both countries' food safety regulators. 

Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has traced the contaminated mustard ingredients to three Indian producers that supply UK companies, which in turn, provide goods to a host of British restaurants and takeaways.  

This warning has now been repeated by Just Eat to its customers directly via an email which reads: 'The Food Standards Agency has made us aware they're warning people with a peanut allergy to avoid consuming foods that contain, or might contain, mustard, mustard powder, or mustard flour, because these ingredients may have been contaminated with peanuts.

'These ingredients can be found in food such as dips, sauces, salads and pre-packed sandwiches.

'The FSA is working hard to identify the products which may have been contaminated with these mustard ingredients because of the severity of some allergic reactions to peanuts.

'Therefore, as a precautionary measure, we wanted to ensure our Just Eat customers are aware of this situation so people with a peanut allergy have up to date information about the potential risk and can take action to keep themselves safe.'

It continued: Whilst the FSA resolves this situation, when ordering food via Just Eat, in addition to checking for peanut based ingredients, we strongly encourage our customers with a peanut allergy to contact the restaurant, café or takeaway to ask if any of their products contain mustard.

WHAT IS ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK?

Anaphylaxis, also known as anaphylactic shock, can kill within minutes.

It is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to a trigger, such as an allergy.

The reaction can often be triggered by certain foods, including peanuts and shellfish.

However, some medicines, bee stings, and even latex used in condoms can also cause the life-threatening reaction.

According to the NHS, it occurs when the immune system overreacts to a trigger. 

Symptoms include: feeling lightheaded or faint; breathing difficulties – such as fast, shallow breathing; wheezing; a fast heartbeat; clammy skin; confusion and anxiety and collapsing or losing consciousness. 

It is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment.

Insect stings are not dangerous for most victims but a person does not necessarily have to have a pre-existing condition to be in danger. 

An incremental build-up of stings can cause a person to develop an allergy, with a subsequent sting triggering the anaphylactic reaction.

'Please be assured, food businesses have a legal obligation to provide this information to customers and should understand your concerns.'

Mustard is itself an allergen for some people meaning that British businesses have a legal obligation to declare its use in food.  

As of Sunday, the FSA published 66 product recalls in the UK in relation to the peanut contamination. 

Charity Allergy UK's chief executive, Simone Miles, said the contamination will be concerning to many people with peanut allergies as well as their families.  

'We understand the concern and anxiety this investigation is likely to cause for those living with food allergies, especially as it further limits already restricted food choices,' she said.

'This is a challenging and frustrating situation, but the safety of the allergic community must come first. 

'We strongly advise anyone with a peanut allergy to follow the FSA's advice and avoid any foods containing mustard until further notice. It is essential not to take unnecessary risks with your health.'

About one in 50 children and one in 200 adults in the UK have a peanut allergy.

Numbers of sufferers have been increasing for years in a trend some experts suspect is linked to a hyper-hygienic society potentially weakening children's immune systems.

Experts estimate that 10 Brits die from an allergic reaction to food each year, with 5,000 people hospitalised for severe reactions. 

Allergies can provoke a variety of symptoms but the most serious is a dangerous inflammation of the airways called anaphylaxis. 

This can make it hard and even impossible to breath and can cause the body to go into a cardiac emergency like a cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen. 

Children with allergies are considered to be especially at risk from severe reactions as, due to their smaller body size, small amounts of allergens provoke bigger reactions.

Allergies are also often discovered in childhood meaning parents may not have an emergency injection to hand if an allergic reaction occurs. 

Bereaved families of those who have lost children to allergic reactions have repeatedly called for an allergy tsar to improve NHS services and awareness of allergies, to prevent avoidable ill health and death.