Ready meals recalled after batch of potatoes is found to contain pieces of metal

A further 45 own-label products – the majority from Sainsbury’s – have been recalled over fears they may contain pieces of metal.

All the affected products, primarily ready meals containing mashed potato, have been pulled from shelves as they contain potato from a single batch found to contain small pieces of metal, said the Food Standards Agency. The affected batch of potatoes originated from a single supplier.

Sainsbury’s said a ”very small piece of metal” had been discovered in a single pack of its Be Good To Yourself Fish Pie.

“As a precautionary measure and in the interest of customer safety, we are recalling all potato-containing ready meal lines produced by the supplier who makes this product,” added the retailer.

The alert follows Tesco and Sainsbury’s recalling batches of potato salad at the weekend over fears of metal contamination. At that time, Sainsbury’s said the problem had been identified by the manufacturer as part of routine quality control checks.

In a statement issued last night (12 May), the FSA said a food chain investigation by retailers and manufacturers following the potato salad recall had identified the affected batch of potatoes and the other products it was used in. Sainsbury’s accounts for 43 of the products, and Morrisons and Waitrose one each. The agency added that initial investigations suggest a piece of equipment broke up on the manufacturing line, resulting in fragments of metal going into the batch of potatoes.

“The FSA is advising anyone who has bought these products not to eat them and return them to the shop where they were purchased,” said FSA chief operating officer Jason Feeney. “The pieces of metal which may be present are potentially harmful, so people should check whether they have bought any of the products.”

The recalled products