Filled pasta

Tesco and Sainsbury’s have recalled a number of own-label canned pasta products following concerns they could contain pieces of rubber.

The items – manufactured by Noliko NV in Belgium – were pulled as a cautionary measure after it became apparent a small number of cans were possibly contaminated by the foreign objects.

The affected SKUs from Sainsbury’s are Beef Ravioli in Tomato Sauce (batch number 121811) and Macaroni Cheese (batch 125901). Both have a best-before date of end January 2019. Also affected are Tesco Beef Ravioli best before December 2018 (batches LB3048 81724C and LB3049 81724C); and Everyday Value Beef Ravioli dated April 2019 (LA146 84824C).

No other products codes are believed to be affected by the issue – and both retailers are offering refunds to shoppers affected.

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said the recall was a “purely precautionary measure” following an investigation with Noliko. “We’re sorry for the inconvenience and ask customers to return these items to receive a full refund,” she added.

Tesco’s spokesman offered a similar explanation: “As a precautionary measure, we are recalling the affected products from customers. Customers who have purchased any of the affected products should return them to store for a full refund.”

Meanwhile, a spokesman in Noliko’s UK offices said the company had no comment further to the warning of the recalls issued by the Food Standards Agency.

The recall as a result of foreign objects is the latest in a number of high-profile cases this year. In February, Mars voluntarily pulled millions of chocolate bars produced in the Netherlands and sold globally – including in the UK – because of fears over plastic contamination. In the same month, Weetabix Food Company recalled packs of Oatibix Flakes over concerns they contained pieces of rubber.