Mislabelled Walkers brand French Fries Potato Snack in individual packs

Friday 17 December 2004

Food Alert: for Action

Ref: 73/2004 (England): 74/2004 (Scotland

Heads of Environmental Health and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware that Walkers Snack Foods Ltd has inadvertently packed cheese and onion flavoured French Fries into bags labelled as ready salted flavour.

As some people with allergies to milk, wheat and mustard may have a severe reaction to the cheese and onion flavouring, Walkers has taken the precaution of notifying the Anaphylaxis Campaign of this error in order that they can directly inform their members.

In addition, Walkers is today writing directly to people who are registered on their database.

Affected Product

Walkers Ready Salted French Fries In Individual, Single Serve, Packets
(Excludes multipacks and 95g size packets)

'Best before' 26.02.05

Code: All codes between and including GBC303 318d and GBC303 319d

No other Walkers French Fries products are known to be affected.

Distribution of the product

Given that a large proportion of this product was distributed through cash and carry type outlets, Walkers is unable to provide a conclusive distribution list for the affected product.

However, a maximum of 11,000 packets could be in circulation. It is most likely that this product will be found in small retail outlets and public houses.

Action to be taken by local authorities

The product does not comply with the food safety requirements specified in the Food Safety Act 1990 due to not being of the nature demanded.

Enforcement officers should contact the premises in their district that they think are likely to sell the affected product.

If any of the product is found they should ensure that it is removed from sale and destroyed, if necessary using powers under the Food Safety Act 1990.

Walkers has provided a customer helpline on 0800 274 777.

Local authorities are asked to consider providing local publicity at the next available opportunity on this issue.

For that purpose, they may wish to refer to the Food Standards Agency's press release as a guide to what to say in any local news release.