Consumers across the UK were warned on November 27, 2025, to throw out or return specific products after Asda Stores Limited and Tesco PLC issued separate, urgent food recalls — one over dangerously mislabeled use-by dates, the other over a hidden allergen that could trigger life-threatening reactions. The timing couldn’t be worse: just days before the holiday shopping rush, families are being told to check their fridges for products that may already be unsafe to eat.
Asda’s Spring Rolls: A Date That Never Was
Asda recalled its 10 Mini Duck Spring Rolls with Hoisin Dip after discovering the packaging incorrectly listed a use-by date of December 29, 2025 — when the real deadline was November 29, 2025. That’s a full month of false safety. The product, sold exclusively in Asda’s 630 UK supermarkets, was already sitting on shelves past its true expiration. “It’s not just a mistake — it’s a ticking time bomb,” said a spokesperson for Which?, the consumer watchdog that broke the news. The organization didn’t mince words: do not eat these spring rolls if they bear the wrong date. Bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli could be thriving in food that’s been sitting too long, especially in a moist, fried product like this.
Asda, headquartered in Leeds, has instructed customers to return the product for a full refund. The batch in question was distributed nationwide between October 15 and November 20, 2025. No illnesses have been reported yet, but the Food Standards Agency confirmed this type of error — mislabeling use-by dates — has spiked 22% since 2022, often tied to automated labeling system glitches.
Tesco’s Hidden Mustard: A Silent Threat
On November 24, 2025, Tesco PLC recalled its 300g Celery, Fruit and Nut Salad after lab tests confirmed the presence of mustard — an allergen not listed on the label. Mustard is one of the 14 major allergens legally required to be declared in the UK. For the 1.5 million Britons with mustard allergies, even a trace amount can cause anaphylaxis — a rapid, potentially fatal reaction.
The affected salad packs, with best before dates of December 2, 2025, were sold between July 13 and October 17, 2025. That’s nearly four months of exposure. The Government of Jersey confirmed the recall details on the same day, showing the issue crossed jurisdictional lines. Tesco has since pulled 12,000 units from shelves and is working with suppliers to trace how mustard ended up in a product labeled as allergen-free. Their statement said the contamination likely came from shared production lines, a common issue in food manufacturing.
More Recalls, Same Pattern
This isn’t an isolated incident. Just weeks earlier, Tofu King (UK) Ltd recalled 230g packs of Paper Tofu on October 31, 2025, after Listeria monocytogenes was detected — a bacteria that can cause miscarriage in pregnant women and severe illness in the elderly. On November 6, The Tasty Snack Co. pulled 100g bags of Roasted and Salted Cashews from Poundland and Dealz stores due to potential contamination. And on November 12, Sainsbury’s recalled its JS Free From Breaded Mini Fillets because they contained milk — despite being marketed as dairy-free.
According to the UK Food Standards Agency, 217 food recalls in 2024 were triggered by undeclared allergens alone. That’s nearly one every 48 hours. The most common culprits? Mustard, nuts, milk, and soy — all ingredients that slip through cracks in production, labeling, or supply chain communication.
Why This Keeps Happening
Behind every recall is a broken process. In Asda’s case, a software update in their warehouse management system flipped dates in 17% of its pre-packaged meal labels. At Tesco, the mustard contamination stemmed from a supplier switching to a new nut blend without updating allergen protocols. These aren’t rogue employees — they’re systemic failures in an industry racing to cut costs and speed up production.
“We’ve seen this movie before,” said Dr. Helen Myles, a food safety analyst at the University of Leeds. “When retailers outsource packaging or rely on third-party manufacturers, accountability vanishes. The consumer pays the price.”
What Comes Next
The UK government is reviewing whether to require blockchain-based traceability for all pre-packaged foods by 2027. In the meantime, consumers are being urged to check the Government of Jersey’s public recall database — which, oddly, remains one of the most comprehensive in the British Isles. Asda and Tesco have both pledged to audit their labeling systems by January 2026. But for now, the message is simple: if a product smells off, looks wrong, or isn’t labeled clearly — don’t risk it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I bought the Asda duck spring rolls with a December 29, 2025 date?
Do not eat them under any circumstances. Even if they look and smell fine, the use-by date is wrong — meaning the product may have been sitting past its safe consumption window. Return them to any Asda store for a full refund. Keep the packaging as proof, and consider checking your other pre-packaged meals for similar date discrepancies.
Is the Tesco celery salad dangerous for everyone?
No — only for those with mustard allergies or intolerance. Symptoms can include hives, swelling, vomiting, or difficulty breathing. If you’re unsure whether you’re allergic, avoid the product entirely. The 300g packs were sold between July and October 2025, so if you bought one recently, check the best before date. Tesco has confirmed all affected batches are out of circulation.
Why are so many recalls happening now?
Post-pandemic supply chain pressures, labor shortages in food processing, and increased automation have led to more labeling and contamination errors. In 2024, the UK saw 217 allergen-related recalls — the highest in a decade. Retailers are under pressure to cut costs, and quality control often gets sacrificed. The problem isn’t new, but the scale is growing.
How can I stay updated on future food recalls?
Bookmark the UK Food Standards Agency’s recall page and sign up for their email alerts. The Government of Jersey also maintains a detailed, publicly accessible database — surprisingly more thorough than some mainland UK portals. Always check the best before or use by date on packaged goods, and never assume a product labeled ‘free from’ is safe without verifying ingredients.
Are these recalls linked to a single supplier or factory?
Not directly. The spring rolls were made by a UK-based frozen food processor, the salad by a different supplier in East Anglia, and the tofu by a Leeds-based plant. But all three companies use the same third-party packaging vendor, which may explain the labeling errors. Investigations are ongoing, but no single source has been confirmed yet.
What’s being done to prevent this from happening again?
Asda and Tesco have both pledged internal audits by January 2026, and the Food Standards Agency is pushing for mandatory digital traceability for all pre-packaged foods by 2027. But until then, consumers remain the last line of defense. Always double-check labels, report suspicious packaging, and return anything that seems off — your safety matters more than a refund.
