Doritos has initiated a product recall for specific Tangy Cheese packs sold at Tesco and Poundland due to an undeclared soya allergen. The company confirmed the products were mispacked with Chilli Heatwave crisps, which contain soya. Consumers with allergies are advised not to eat the product and to request a full refund.
Food Standards Agency identifies mispacked Chilli Heatwave crisps
Recall Details and Affected Retailers
The recall concerns specific batches of Doritos Tangy Cheese, which authorities discovered were mispacked with the company’s Chilli Heatwave flavour. Because the Chilli Heatwave variety contains soya—an ingredient not declared on the Tangy Cheese packaging—the error creates a possible health risk for consumers with soya allergies, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The announcement was formalised on Friday, 23 February 2024.
The specific items identified as part of the recall are:
- Tesco: Doritos Tangy Cheese 180g packs.
- Poundland: Doritos Tangy Cheese 5 x 30g multipacks.
Both affected product lines share a best-before date of 01 June 2024. The recall is limited to these specific retail channels, and the FSA has clarified that only purchases of the listed products from these specific retailers are affected by the recall.
Doritos issues Consumer Care Line refund guidance
Instructions for Consumers
The firm has issued a formal recall notice to customers explaining the labelling error. While the packaging for the Tangy Cheese product notes that it may contain soya
on the back of the pack, the specific allergen is absent from the primary ingredients list, leading to the regulatory intervention. Doritos stated: Although this product states may contain soya on the back of pack, soya is not declared on the ingredients list. The affected packs pose a risk to people with an allergy to soya.
The instructions for affected consumers are explicit. The FSA and the company have provided a direct line for those who have purchased the mispacked items. The official guidance states: If you have bought the above product and have an allergy to soya, do not eat it. Instead, contact the Consumer Care Line on 0800 274 777 to receive a full refund.
Food Standards Agency mandates Allergy Alert protocols
Regulatory Oversight and Allergy Safety
The FSA maintains strict protocols for such incidents, categorizing this action as an Allergy Alert. According to the agency, a recall is necessary whenever a food product poses a risk to consumers due to missing or incorrect allergy labelling. The FSA explains: Sometimes there will be a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold. Then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product).
The agency further noted that when there is a food allergy risk, the FSA will issue an Allergy Alert to ensure the public is informed promptly. As part of the regulatory response, Doritos has been advised to contact relevant allergy support organisations, which will then tell their members about the recall. This step is designed to ensure that the information reaches those who are most vulnerable to the undeclared ingredient.
Tesco and Poundland remove mispacked 180g and 5 x 30g units
Operational Stakes for the Brand
The recall process ensures that items are systematically removed from store shelves and that customers are given a clear path to resolution via the Consumer Care Line.
For now, the priority for both the manufacturer and the retailers—Tesco and Poundland—remains the identification and removal of the mispacked 180g and 5 x 30g units before they are consumed by individuals with soya sensitivities.
