Do not eat warning issued as major supermarket chain recalls pork pies due severe risk

Co-op has urgently recalled a batch of pork pies over fears they could cause potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.

The supermarket is pulling its Co-op 4 Mini Pork & Pickle Pies from shelves because they contain milk that is not declared on the label. 

This means the product could be dangerous for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents.

The recall affects the 200g packs with use-by dates of 13 August 2025, 14 August 2025, and 16 August 2025.

Milk is one of the UK’s 14 major food allergens, alongside peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish, shellfish, soya, wheat, and others. 

In people who are allergic, even tiny amounts can trigger symptoms such as hives, swelling, vomiting and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis—a medical emergency which can be fatal if not treated quickly.

An intolerance to milk, while not usually life-threatening, can also cause unpleasant symptoms including stomach pain, bloating and diarrhoea.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: ‘If you have bought the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, do not eat it.

‘Instead return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund or replacement (subject to availability). If purchased online, you can receive a refund by calling 0330 041 7737.’ 

Co-op said it had been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall. 

The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers, explaining why the product is being recalled and what to do if they have bought it.

Co-op customers can also contact the retailer’s Careline on 0800 0686 727 or email via the Product issues or returns section of the Co-op website.

Food recalls for undeclared milk are among the most common in the UK, affecting a wide range of products from ready meals to baked goods.

In 2021, five-year-old Benedict Blythe died after going into anaphylactic shock at his primary school in Cambridgeshire when he was exposed to cow’s milk protein. 

An inquest heard the likely source was cross-contamination involving his own drink bottle at break time. 

The jury found delays in giving him his EpiPen, confusion over milk storage, and a lack of clear allergy protocols. 

His mother said her son’s death was ‘preventable’ and is now campaigning for ‘Benedict’s Law’—new rules to ensure all schools have robust allergy safety policies, staff training and spare adrenaline auto-injectors.

In 2022, 13-year-old Hannah Jacobs collapsed and died after being served a hot chocolate made with cow’s milk instead of soya at a Costa Coffee branch. 

The inquest found there had been a ‘failure to follow the processes in place to discuss allergies’ and a breakdown in communication between staff and Hannah’s mother. 

She had severe allergies to dairy, fish and egg. Her case prompted renewed calls from consumer safety bodies for food businesses to improve allergen awareness, with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute warning there is ‘no room for complacency’ when it comes to preventing such tragedies. 

In allergy-related recalls, the problem is often incorrect or missing labelling, but it can also be due to cross-contamination during manufacturing.

Experts advise that allergens should be avoided entirely by those affected, even if the quantity seems small. 

According to Food Allergy Research & Education: ‘Even a trace amount of a food allergen can cause a severe reaction called anaphylaxis in some people.’

Allergy charities have welcomed the use of public recall notices but have called for clearer labelling and tighter controls to reduce mistakes. 

They point out that around two million people in the UK are estimated to live with a food allergy, with milk allergies among the most common, particularly in children.

The Anaphylaxis UK charity advises that anyone experiencing swelling of the lips or tongue, difficulty breathing, dizziness or collapse after consuming a product should use an adrenaline auto-injector immediately if prescribed, and call 999.

Co-op has apologies for any inconvenience caused. The supermarket has not disclosed how the labelling error occurred.

Shoppers can stay informed about recalls by subscribing to the FSA’s allergy alert email service or checking the alerts section of its website.