The warning applies in England and Wales, while Food Standards Scotland has issued a separate recall covering Scotland. Consumers who have bought the affected product have been advised not to grow the seeds or consume any sprouts or seedlings produced from them, and to return the pack to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The Affected Batch and the Health Risk Identified
According to the Food Standards Agency, the recalled product is Rapunzel bioSnacky Das Original Red Clover Seeds for Sprouts and Seedlings in a 30g pack. The affected batch carries the code 11293 and has a best-before date of December 2028.
The agency said Shiga toxin-producing E. coli had been found in the seed. STEC infection can cause severe diarrhoea, including bloody diarrhoea, as well as abdominal pain. In some cases, it can lead to haemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a serious condition that may cause kidney failure and can be fatal.
People experiencing these symptoms have also been given advice intended to reduce the risk of passing the infection to others. According to the Food Standards Agency, anyone who is unwell should remain away from work, school or nursery until they have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours.
A.Vogel Ltd is recalling the affected batch and arranging notices at retailers selling the product and on relevant websites. These notices are intended to explain why the recall has been issued and what customers should do if they have already bought the seeds.
Rapunzel also issued an apology following the incident. A company spokesman said: “We are very sorry for this incident and sincerely apologise.” The company added that it was doing everything possible to resolve the matter and said it hoped customers would continue to place their trust in the business.
What Consumers Are Being Told to Do
The advice to customers is straightforward: the affected seeds should not be grown, and sprouts or seedlings produced from them should not be eaten. Buyers should instead return the product to the retailer from which it was purchased to receive a full refund. According to the Food Standards Agency, a food recall is used when a problem with a product means customers need to return it. This differs from a withdrawal, in which a product is removed from sale before reaching consumers or without requiring customers to return it.
The agency issues Product Recall Information Notices and Product Withdrawal Information Notices to inform consumers and local authorities about food safety problems. In some circumstances, it may also issue a Food Alert for Action, which gives local authorities details of specific steps they are expected to take on behalf of consumers.
For this recall, the warning is limited to the identified 30g packs carrying batch code 11293 and the December 2028 best-before date. The Food Standards Agency’s guidance is that anyone who has that product should not use it for sprouting or consumption and should return it to the retailer.
