Major retailers are recalling these popular products over health concerns

Ahead of the festive season, some major retailers in the UK are recalling items over health and safety concerns. Nestle UK, Iceland, Amazon, Wish and Sainbury’s are some of the retailers stopping the sale of certain items which includes the popular chocolate treat, Aero.

Nestle’s Aero

Nestle UK issued a recall of its Aero Hot Chocolate products as a precautionary step based on suspicion that some packs may contain small pieces of food-grade silica beads, rendering them unsafe for human consumption. Affected products include hot chocolate jars (288g), 'Hot Choc' sachets, and Aero Go Instant 'Hot Choc'. According to Trading Standards, the Nestle UK has taken steps to inform the public about the recall.

Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tells them what to do if they have bought the products.

Customers who have bought the products are being advised to throw out the contents of the jar and to send the lid, the empty sachet or the sleeve of the cups (cardboard of plastic 8-sleeve) with their names and address to Nestle UK for full a refund.

Choking hazard

Silica gel, the substance thought to be in some of the recalled products is a drying agent that usually comes in the form of small, clear beads placed in small packets made of paper or cloth, WebMD. These packets are often packaged with commercial products such as clothing, food and electronics to prevent damage caused by moisture. Although not toxic, it poses a serious risk of choking especially in children.

Also, if eaten in large quantities, desiccant silica gel may cause intestinal obstruction. This is why manufacturers often label the packets with “Do not eat” or “Throw away after using”.

Sources used:

Trading Standards: Nestlé UK recalls AERO Hot Chocolate products because they may contain small pieces of food-grade silica beads

Wales Online: Nestlé, Iceland, Amazon, Wish, and Sainsbury's recall products over safety concerns

WebMD: What to Know About Desiccant Silica Gel