JELLY sweets sold at Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Ocado, Morrisons and Asda have been recalled over ‘possible health risk’ to Brits.
People with coeliac disease or a wheat allergy were warned not to eat The Natural Confectionery Co. Jelly Snakes if they’ve purchased them.
Mondelez International recalled the sweet treats from five major supermarkets after it found that some packs may contain wheat that’s not mentioned on the label.
Some Jelly Snakes packs may have different sweets mixed in with them that contain gluten, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said in an alert.
“As a result of a packaging error, some packs may contain Liquorice Allsorts sweets which contain wheat,” it explained.
“This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with coeliac disease, and/or an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten.”
Read more on coeliac disease
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten, damaging your gut so your body can’t properly take in nutrients.
Sufferers experience uncomfortable symptoms like diarrhoea, tummy pain and bloating, as well as fatigue, rashes and unintentional weight loss.
Gluten is contained in foods made out of wheat, barley or rye, such as, bread, pasta, cakes and cereals.
You can also be sensitive to gluten without being coeliac.
If you have a wheat allergy, you’ll probably react to glutinous foods within seconds or minutes of eating them, with swelling, itching or irritation in your mouth and throat.
If you’re sensitive to gluten without being coeliac, you might experience similar symptoms without damage being inflicted to your gut lining, Coeliac UK said.
The FSA said the recall applies to the following batches sold at Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Ocado, Morrisons and Asda:
- The Natural Confectionery Co. Jelly Snakes 130g (best before December 16 2024 – batch code OSH0B35072)
- The Natural Confectionery Co. Jelly Snakes 130g (best before December 17 2024 – batch codes OSH0F35111, OSH0B35112, OSH0F35112)
- The Natural Confectionery Co. Jelly Snakes 130g (best before December 18 2024 – batch code OSH0F35121)
“If you have bought the above product and have coeliac disease, and/or an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten, do not eat it,” the FSA advised.
“Instead return it to the store from where it was purchased for a full refund.”
What happens if I eat gluten when I’m intolerant?
Symptoms of ceoliac disease vary from person to person, Coeliac UK said.
Some people may have symptoms for several days after eating gluten, while others might not experience any symptoms at all.
“The amount of gluten someone eats affects the degree of gut damage and your individual sensitivity to gluten affects the symptoms you may or may not experience,” the charity explained.
“If a mistake is made and you have gluten by accident, it is unlikely to cause any long term gut damage, although you may suffer from diarrhoea, abdominal pain or vomiting so it is important to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water,” it went on.
It advised you take medication to treat your symptoms and speak to a GP or pharmacist if you need more advice.
If you have an allergic reaction to wheat, you might experience:
- Dizziness
- Itchy skin or a raised rash (hives)
- Swelling of the lips, face and eyes
- Coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, noisy breathing or a hoarse voice
- Sneezing or an itchy, runny or blocked nose
- Feeling or being sick
- Tummy pain
- Diarrhoea
If you have serious allergic attack, including sudden swelling of your lips and tongue, difficulty breathing tightness and tightness in your throat, the NHS advises you use your EpiPen – or other adrenaline auto-injectors – immediately and call 999.
A gluten intolerance will cause different symptoms to an allergy, such as bloating and tummy pain, usually a few hours after eating the food.