Iceland issues 'do not eat' warning over rice item due to 'serious health risks'

Frozen food giant Iceland has issued an urgent product recall over fears that one of its items could cause serious health issues for allergy sufferers.

Customers are being urged to return the Iceland 4 Golden Savoury Rice Steam Bags due to undeclared allergens present in the product. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has released a statement confirming that the supermarket chain is requesting customers to bring back the affected item in exchange for a full refund.

The watchdog highlighted that the product may contain crustaceans, fish, milk, and molluscs which were not specified on the label. As a result, the FSA warned: "This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to crustaceans and/or an allergy to fish and/or an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents and/or an allergy to molluscs."

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The warning pertains to the 600g bags of Iceland 4 Golden Savoury Rice Steam Bags with the best-before date of 16 November 2025. In their guidance, the FSA instructed: "If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to any Iceland store for a full refund. For more information contact Iceland Customer Services on 0800 328 0800 (option 2)."

The regulatory body added: "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 Then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product). Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk. When there is a food allergy risk, the FSA will issue an Allergy Alert."

In a statement, Iceland said: "We are taking the precautionary measure of recalling this date code of the above product because it may contain undeclared fish, crustaceans, molluscs and milk and therefore poses a potential risk to people that have an allergy to fish, crustaceans, molluscs and milk. Only the Best Before date listed in this notice is affected."

People with allergies or intolerances to these allergens face serious risks. Possible symptoms of such allergies include skin conditions like hives, swelling of the face, and vomiting, among others.

Iceland warns: "If you have purchased any of the above products, do not eat it. Instead, follow the below instructions. Check if you have bought any of the affected products. Please return to any Iceland store where a full refund will be given. No receipt is required."

Customer inquiries can be addressed by contacting Iceland Customer Services at 0800 328 0800 (option 2).