Urgent Food Safety Alert: Popular Meat Substitute Recalled Over Allergy Concerns
The Food Standards Agency has issued an urgent product recall affecting a popular meat-alternative item sold in major UK supermarkets. Shoppers are being warned not to consume specific batches of THIS™ Isn't Chicken Deli Pieces due to potentially serious health risks for people with certain allergies.
What's the Problem with These Products?
The FSA's alert, published on January 28, states that these products contain undeclared soya and wheat (gluten) ingredients. This labelling error makes them "a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to soya and/or an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten or with coeliac disease."
The manufacturer, THIS™, has confirmed that the issue stems from a mislabelling problem during production. A batch of the chicken-style deli pieces was incorrectly packed with base labels intended for their cocktail sausages product, which doesn't contain these allergens.
Which Products Are Affected?
The recall concerns 120g packs of THIS™ Isn't Chicken Deli Pieces with the following ten use-by dates:
- January 29, 2026
- January 30, 2026
- January 31, 2026
- February 2, 2026
- February 3, 2026
- February 4, 2026
- February 5, 2026
- February 6, 2026
- February 12, 2026
- February 13, 2026
These products have been available for purchase in England, Wales, and Scotland through various supermarkets including Waitrose and Sainsbury's.
What Should Consumers Do?
The FSA's guidance is clear and urgent:
- Do not eat these products if you have purchased them
- Return them to the store where you bought them for a full refund
- No receipt is required for the refund
- Check the product's use-by date against the list above
Point-of-sale notices are being displayed in all retail stores selling this product, explaining the recall and advising customers on appropriate action.
Manufacturer's Response and Safety Measures
THIS™ has initiated what they describe as a "precautionary recall" of all their Isn't Chicken Deli Pieces. The company states: "The safety of our customers is always our top priority" and has advised that they're contacting relevant allergy support organisations to ensure their members are informed about the recall.
Customers seeking more information are advised to contact THIS™ directly at shout@this.co or check the company's website for the correct ingredient list for their Isn't Chicken Deli Pieces product.
Both Waitrose and Sainsbury's have been approached for further information about the recall's implementation in their stores. This incident highlights the critical importance of accurate food labelling, particularly for products that may contain common allergens affecting significant portions of the population.
