Healthy Fit Cookies & Cream bars contain milk and soya NOT listed in English on label • Food Standards Agency issues emergency alert warning of ‘health risk’ • Shoppers told to return product immediately for FULL REFUND – no receipt needed
Lidl has issued an urgent recall for a popular protein bar across all its Northern Ireland stores after a labelling blunder left allergy sufferers at risk of potentially life-threatening reactions.
The budget supermarket giant has pulled Healthy Fit Cookies & Cream Protein Bars from shelves after discovering they contain milk and soya that are NOT declared in English on the packaging.
The Food Standards Agency issued an emergency allergy alert yesterday, warning that the 60g bars pose a “possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents and/or an allergy to soya.
THE DANGER LURKING IN YOUR PROTEIN SNACK
The affected products carry:
- Batch code: 002851
- Best before date: January 2026
- Pack size: 60g
- Brand: Healthy Fit
The Food Standards Agency confirmed: “This product contains milk and soya making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents and/or an allergy to soya.
SHOPPERS WARNED: ‘DO NOT EAT’
Lidl has issued stark advice to customers who have purchased the protein bars:
“If you have purchased the above produce and have an allergy or intolerance to Milk or Soy, we advise you not to consume it.”
The supermarket added: “Instead, please return the product to a Lidl store for a full refund, with or without a receipt.”
LABELLING BLUNDER SPARKS HEALTH FEARS
The crisis has erupted because while the allergens may be listed on the packaging, they are NOT mentioned in English – leaving British and Irish shoppers unable to identify the danger.
The Food Standards Agency said the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents and / or an allergy to soya.
For the thousands of people across Northern Ireland with milk or soya allergies, consuming these undeclared ingredients could trigger reactions ranging from mild discomfort to severe anaphylactic shock.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
In response to the crisis:
- Point of sale notices will be displayed in all Lidl retail stores that are selling this product
- Healthy Fit is recalling the above product and has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations
- All 43 Lidl stores across Northern Ireland have been alerted
PROTEIN BAR BOOM TURNS BUST
The recall comes at an embarrassing time for Lidl, which has been aggressively expanding its protein range to cash in on the fitness boom.
Just months ago in January, the retailer launched 14 new protein products with fanfare, including popular protein-rich staples such as puddings, yogurts, cereals, bars and ready meals.
The German discounter had been positioning itself as the affordable alternative for fitness enthusiasts, with High Protein Bars (3-pack, £3.49) in flavours Chocolate Brownie, Cookies and Cream, White Chocolate Crisp, and Peanut.
NOT THE FIRST TIME
This isn’t Lidl’s first brush with product safety issues in Northern Ireland. Earlier this year:
- Lidl Northern Ireland recalls further Deluxe Cheddar Cheese Wedge products because of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes
- The supermarket has faced multiple recalls for various products containing undeclared allergens or contamination
ALLERGY EPIDEMIC
The recall highlights the growing crisis of food allergies in the UK and Ireland:
- Milk allergy affects up to 7.5% of babies under one year old
- Soya allergy is one of the most common food allergies, especially in infants and young children
- Allergic reactions can range from mild symptoms to life-threatening anaphylaxis
WHAT SHOPPERS SHOULD DO NOW
If you have purchased Healthy Fit Cookies & Cream Protein Bars:
- CHECK the batch code immediately – look for 002851
- DO NOT CONSUME if you have any milk or soya allergies
- RETURN to any Lidl store for a full refund
- NO RECEIPT NEEDED – refunds will be given without proof of purchase
- CONTACT Lidl Customer Services:
- Northern Ireland: 0289 568 4888
- Email: customer.care@lidl.co.uk
WIDER RECALL CRISIS
The Lidl recall is just the latest in a string of allergy-related product withdrawals. According to recent food safety reports, both Ireland and Northern Ireland issued matching allergy alerts for the Healthy Fit protein bars on the same day.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Food safety experts warn that undeclared allergens remain one of the biggest risks in food manufacturing, with labelling errors potentially putting lives at risk.
The recall demonstrates the importance of accurate allergen labelling on food products, particularly for consumers with serious allergies who rely on ingredient information to make safe purchasing decisions.
A Lidl spokesperson said: “The safety of our customers is our top priority. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank customers for their understanding.”
Image credit: Lidl, Scarborough by Stephen McKay, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Geograph.
