Honeycomb Blast Choc Bar Recall: FSA Allergy Alert and How to Claim a Refund

What Has Been Recalled?

Why Is This a Risk?

Milk allergy is an immune system response to proteins found in milk, including casein, which is a major structural protein making up roughly 80 per cent of the protein content of cow's milk. Unlike lactose intolerance - which involves difficulty digesting the milk sugar lactose and causes gastrointestinal symptoms - a true milk allergy triggers an immune response that can in serious cases lead to anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause breathing difficulty, a sudden drop in blood pressure, swelling of the throat and loss of consciousness. It requires immediate medical treatment, typically an injection of adrenaline. People with diagnosed milk allergy routinely avoid any product containing even trace amounts of casein and rely on accurate food labelling to do so safely. An undeclared milk allergen on a product that might appear suitable for someone with milk allergy is therefore a serious safety issue.

Buttermilk Confections has issued a point-of-sale notice to retailers explaining the recall and has been advised by the FSA to contact relevant allergy support organisations so that their members can be alerted directly. The company is required to take all affected stock off sale and to facilitate returns from consumers.

What to Do If You Have Bought This Product

If you have a milk allergy or intolerance and have purchased the Honeycomb Blast Choc Bar 45g by Buttermilk Confections, do not eat it. The FSA's specific advice is as follows. Do not consume the product under any circumstances. Return it to the retailer where it was purchased for a full refund. You do not need a receipt to claim a refund on a recalled product - the recall itself creates the right to a full refund under UK consumer law, irrespective of when you bought the product or whether you have proof of purchase. If you have already consumed the product and are experiencing symptoms consistent with an allergic reaction, including hives, swelling, stomach cramps, vomiting or breathing difficulty, contact NHS 111 or your GP. If you experience a severe reaction involving difficulty breathing, severe swelling of the face or throat, or loss of consciousness, call 999 immediately as this is a medical emergency.

Your Consumer Rights on a Recalled Product

When a product is recalled due to a safety issue, including an allergen labelling failure, UK consumer law provides a clear and unconditional right to a full refund. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a product that is not safe or not as described entitles the consumer to a remedy. Under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, producers and distributors have legal obligations to participate in recall processes and to remedy the situation for consumers who have already bought the affected product.

In practice this means that a retailer cannot refuse a refund on a recalled item on the grounds of their own returns policy, absence of a receipt, the fact that the product has been partially consumed, or any other internal policy reason. The right to a refund applies regardless of when the product was purchased and regardless of whether the packaging is still intact. If a retailer refuses to honour this right, the matter can be escalated to Citizens Advice via citizensadvice.org.uk or by calling the consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133, or referred to the local Trading Standards authority.

UK Allergen Labelling Law

UK food labelling rules require the 14 major allergens to be emphasised in ingredient lists on pre-packaged food, for example by printing the allergen name in bold, by underlining it, or by using a different colour. The 14 regulated allergens are: celery, cereals containing gluten including wheat, rye, barley and oats, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites at concentrations above 10 parts per million, and tree nuts. These rules are set by the Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019 and equivalent legislation for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, enforced by the FSA.

Natasha's Law, which came into force in October 2021, extended mandatory full ingredient and allergen labelling to food that is pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS), such as sandwiches or salads packaged on the same premises where they are prepared and sold. Before Natasha's Law, these products only required a label with the product name. The law was introduced following the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse in 2016 after she had an allergic reaction to a baguette that did not carry full allergen information on its packaging.

How to Stay Updated on FSA Recalls

The FSA publishes all allergy alerts and product recall notices at food.gov.uk/news-alerts. Consumers can sign up for free email alerts to receive notifications directly whenever a new allergy alert or food recall is issued. The Allergy UK charity at allergyuk.org and Anaphylaxis UK at anaphylaxis.org.uk both maintain alert systems for their members and provide guidance on managing food allergies, reading ingredient labels, and what to do in the event of an allergic reaction.

What Happens Next in the Recall Process

Once a recall is issued, the FSA monitors the response from both the producer and retailers to confirm that affected stock is removed from sale and that consumers are being informed. Buttermilk Confections is required to provide the FSA with updates on the progress of the recall, including the quantity of product returned and the remediation steps taken to prevent a recurrence. The FSA publishes a status update on the original alert page at food.gov.uk as the recall progresses. Retailers who continue to sell a recalled product after being notified face enforcement action from their local Trading Standards authority. Consumers who find the recalled product still on sale after this alert should report it to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133, which will refer the matter to Trading Standards. In cases of serious allergen labelling failures, the FSA may also refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service if there is evidence of wilful non-compliance with food safety legislation.