Almond proteins have been used instead of cumin
Those who suffer from nut allergies have been advised to avoid supermarket curries and other products that contain cumin as an investigation goes underway by government food watchdogs.
The Independent revealed on Saturday that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is now in the middle so a nationwide testing programme as traces of almonds were found in food products that did not have a warning on the label that read ‘containing nuts’.
Aldi’s Fiesta brand Fajita Dinner kit was recalled as a precaution as this was the third product that was affected in the last two weeks. An Aldi spokesman said the safety of its customers was its “No 1 priority”.
It is thought that as a means of substituting cumin, which flavours soups, stews and processed meals, cheaper peanut and almond proteins have been used instead. If consumed by someone with a severe nut allergy, the results could be fatal. People are now being advised to avoid any foods that are listed as having cumin in them until FSA publishes its results.
“If you want to be cautious, just avoid anything with cumin in it until we know more – ready meals, spices that you use yourself or anything that’s flavoured with cumin such as curries,” said Lindsey McManus, deputy CEO of Allergy UK. “It’s used in lots of things, but it will be in the ingredients list, so if people want to be cautious they can check the label and avoid it.”
Morrisons took its Fajita Meal Kit off the shelves on Thursday after the almond proteins were fund in the seasoning mix. At the Bart Ingredients Company in Bristol, batches of ground cumin were also found to contain the same almonds proteins.
Professor Chris Elliott, who was at the forefront of the Government’s inquiry into the horsemeat scandal, told The Independent that the impact on consumers could be “much more serious” because it may lead to people “getting ill or even dying”.
The bad harvest in India has led to increased prices and it is believed that these substitutes have been used in a bid to reduce costs.
Source: The Independent