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Asda issues urgent ‘do not eat’ warning over popular dinner staple deemed ‘unsafe’
We reveal the important difference between best-before and use-by dates
PRAWNS from Asda have been labelled with the wrong use-by-date and could make people sick, officials have warned.
A specific batch of the store's own brand of succulent cooked and peeled king prawns have been deemed "unsafe to eat".
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The alert, from the supermarket and Food Standards Agency (FSA), applies to 201g packs with batch code L66000 and the wrongly labelled use-before date of December 21, 2024.
Use-by dates are found on food that goes off quickly, such as meat products or ready-to-eat meals.
It marks the point after which it could be unsafe to eat.
Affected customers should return the product to their nearest store for a full refund.
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More information is available by contacting Asda directly on 0800 952 0101.
The FSA said: "Asda is recalling Asda Succulent Cooked & Peeled King Prawns because of a labelling error which shows an incorrect use-by date, making them unsafe to eat."
Signs are being displayed in stores to inform shoppers of the potential dangers.
A spokesperson for Asda added: "We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused."
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What do food labels mean?
The difference between best-before and use-by dates is really important to know.
Best before dates
The FSA states that "the best before date, sometimes shown as BBE, is about quality and not safety.
"The food will be safe to eat after this date but may not be at its best."
If a product is labelled "best before", you can use common sense to decide when it is no longer fit to eat.
Examples might include frozen, dried and tinned foods, as well as some fresh foods such as strawberries and brocolli.
Use by dates
Food past its "use by" date should not be eaten.
Unlike "best before" recommendations, "use by" dates are about safety and food hygiene.
While "best before" dates are open to interpretation, certain foods may contain harmful bacteria.
If stored for too long or at the wrong temperature, they can cause food poisoning.
The FSA warns that for food with a use-by date, the ‘sniff test’ is not an appropriate method.
Food that is past its "use by" date can look and smell fine even after the date has passed, but that does not mean that it is safe to eat.
You cannot see, smell or sometimes even taste the bacteria that causes food poisoning.
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Smoked fish, meat products like chicken and beef and ready-prepared salads usually have a "use by" date.
According to the NHS, once a food with a "use by" date on it has been opened, you must also follow any instructions, such as "eat within three days of opening."
Do I have food poisoning?
Food poisoning is rarely serious and usually gets better within a week.
It’s hard to miss the symptoms, which include:
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Diarrhoea
- Being sick (vomiting)
- Stomach cramps
- A high temperature of 38C or above
- Feeling generally unwell – such as feeling tired or having aches and chills
- The symptoms usually start within a few days of eating the food that caused the infection.
- Sometimes they start after a few hours or not for a few weeks
How to treat food poisoning
You can usually treat yourself or your child at home.
The symptoms usually pass within a week.
The most important thing is to have lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration.
You should also see a doctor if along with other symptoms you have high fever, blood in your stool, or feel dehydrated or unable to keep any food or liquid down.
Make sure you stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days.
Source: NHS