The Food Standards Agency has issued a ‘do not eat’ alert
Marks & Spencer is recalling Authentic Greek Yoghurt with Vanilla because the product may contain gluten, which is not mentioned on the label. The recall covers 500g packs with a use-by date of May 12.
This product may contain gluten making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to gluten or have coeliac disease. Marks & Spencer is recalling the yoghurt and has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall.
Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling the yoghurt and on the Marks & Spencers’ website. The notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought it.
A Food Standards Agency spokesman said: “If you have bought the product and have an allergy or an intolerance to gluten or have coeliac disease, do not eat it. Instead return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund. For more information contact Marks & Spencer on 0333301-48555.”
Research from Coeliac UK indicates that approximately 1 in 100 people in the UK have coeliac disease. This is not an allergy but a serious autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the gut lining when gluten is consumed. Despite its prevalence, only about 36% of those with the condition are actually diagnosed. This means there are roughly 500,000 people in the UK living with the disease who are currently unaware they have it.
There is also a large group of people with Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS). People test negative for coeliac disease and wheat allergies but still experience physical symptoms when they eat gluten. Estimates for this group vary significantly because there is currently no definitive blood test for it. However, some UK studies suggest that up to 13% of the population—roughly 8 to 9 million people—report symptoms that they attribute to gluten.
A true wheat allergy is an IgE immune response. This is relatively uncommon in adults, affecting roughly 0.1% to 1% of the population. Unlike coeliac disease, a wheat allergy can cause immediate and potentially life-threatening reactions like anaphylaxis, hives, or swelling, but it is a reaction to the proteins in wheat specifically, not necessarily the gluten protein found in barley or rye.
