Sainsbury's issues recall and warns customers 'do not use' these five products

 A heartfelt alert from Sainsbury’s: 

“Do not use” these five products

Picture this. You’re enjoying an afternoon pick‑me‑up: a small pack of treats bought at Sainsbury’s, to share with friends or tuck into during a busy day. Then a headline flashes across your screen: “Sainsbury’s issues recall and warns customers ‘do not use’ these five products.” Your heart sinks a little. Did you buy one of them? Is it in your pantry right now?

1. What just happened?

Earlier this April (specifically on April 1, 2025), the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a Product Recall Information Notice (FSA‑PRIN‑16‑2025) about one Taste the Difference Belgian Milk Chocolate Honeycomb Pretzel product sold by Sainsbury’s. The reason? The bag — batch code L159922, expiry best before April 2025 — may contain sharp pieces of metal. Terrifying thought, right? Metal inside chocolate is no joke; it’s absolutely unsafe to eat food.gov.uk.

Because of this, Sainsbury’s has recall notices posted in stores and online, telling customers: “If you’ve bought this product, do not eat it. Return it for a full refund”. No fuss, no questions asked food.gov.uk.

So that’s recall number one of the five — official, factual, and confirmed.

2. And the other four?

You may have seen bold social‑media posts from outlets like Liverpool Echo or Manchester Evening News, warning that five products are under a “do not use” recall from Sainsbury’s. However, as of now, the only product officially confirmed in Food Standards Agency notices is the chocolate pretzel. The other four remain unverified pending official product‑specific statements.

This is important: many recall lists online can be misleading or prematurely published. Sainsbury’s own website lists five product recalls in total, but those include items like Appletiser, Newcastle Brown Ale, Nutribullet blender, Tower air fryer, and a Bosch toaster — none of which carry a “do not use” warning in the same dramatic way help.sainsburys.co.ukhelp.sainsburys.co.uk.

That means while the social reports are eye‑catching, they don’t yet match official recall documentation naming five specific products with an urgent instruction not to use. So, for a fully accurate discussion, here’s a breakdown:

• Confirmed recall (official): Belgian Milk Chocolate Honeycomb Pretzel — “do not use” warning.

• Other four “do not use” items: cited in headlines, not yet confirmed publicly by FSA or Sainsbury’s statements.

3. Why the confusion?

It’s easy to see how headlines sprouted:

1. Sainsbury’s hosts multiple active recalls (five items listed on its recall page) help.sainsburys.co.ukhelp.sainsburys.co.uk.

2. Social platforms and regional media pick up on those and extrapolate: “five products – do not use!”

3. Only one product is currently in an FSA hazardous class with safety risk (metal in food). The others range across categories, some non‑food, some less acute.

In short, media combined number of active recalls with urgent phrasing, and now we have the “five product” story without full detail.

4. So what should you do?

✅ Step one: Check you pantry

If you recently shopped at Sainsbury’s and bought any Taste the Difference Belgian Milk Chocolate Honeycomb Pretzel, check the batch code. If it’s L159922 and best‑before date of April 2025, do not eat it — return to store and request a refund.

🔍 Step two: Review your home for other items

Even though only one product is confirmed, it’s smart to glance at other recall listings:

• Newcastle Brown Ale 550 ml

• Appletiser 6×250 ml

• Nutribullet Go blender

• Tower Air Fryer

• Bosch Styline Toaster models TAT8611GB & TAT8613GB

If you have any of those and are uncertain, visit the Sainsbury’s product recall page or contact careline for details help.sainsburys.co.ukhelp.sainsburys.co.uk.

📞 Step three: Stay alert

Set aside a few minutes each week to scan your recent grocery emails or alerts. Retailers often post updates rapidly. If Sainsbury’s confirms further “do not use” notices, you’ll catch it early.

5. Imagine the worst (but act calmly)

Picture this scenario:

You open the fridge, grab that honeycomb‑pretzel bar, unwrap it, and — crunch — feel a sharp shard. Horror flashes through your mind. Food safety nightmares. But instead, you paused. You read the recall notice. You checked the batch code. Another day saved.

For the other four hypothetical products, at this moment they lack the same hazard evidence — but it’s not harmful to be cautious. Better safe than sorry.

6. Breaking it down in human terms

Let me put it in plain language:

• Only one product is officially dangerous to eat (the chocolate pretzel with metal contamination).

• Four other products are listed in recall rosters, but no public warning told customers to stop using them immediately yet.

• Media made bold claims of “five products — do not use” by merging the number of recalls with urgency.

• You should treat only the chocolate pretzel as dangerous right now.

• If you own the others, check store notices or contact Sainsbury’s to see if your batch should be returned.

7. Why metal in chocolate is taken ultra seriously

Chocolate contaminated with metal isn’t just gross — it’s potentially deadly. Tiny shards of metal can cause internal cuts, choking hazards, or severe digestive injury. That’s why the FSA flagged the product under an urgent safety alert.

Sainsbury’s was swift in removing the product from shelves and letting customers know to return it — they’ve been clear, direct, and no‑questions‑asked about refunds. That’s proper recall practice.

8. Call‑out to Sainsbury’s & shoppers: clarity matters

Retailers – and media – have a responsibility to be precise. If there were five “do not use” items, each should be named explicitly in official notices. Otherwise it’s confusing — like, is it five or one? Readers don’t need speculation; they need straightforward labeling.

To Sainsbury’s: when issuing recall notices, clearly state: “These items must not be used/do not use — list names, batch codes, pro tips.” That helps avoid the verbal game of “five or just one?” that leaves customers guessing.

9. Human angle: why it matters to real people

Think of the mom grabbing snacks before school runs, the office worker picking up lunch treats, or the food‑obsessed friend hosting a board‑game night. People rely on simple clarity: “unsafe = do not use.” They don’t want surprise sharp stuff in their chocolate or hidden hazard in their kitchen gadget.

Clear, warm, human communication helps. A recall message that feels robotic (“Product … batch … no consumption”) doesn’t cut it. Sainsbury’s recall notice for the chocolate product is effective because it’s plain: do not eat it, return for refund, here’s how to contact us.

We can only hope future recall notices follow that pattern.

10. Wrapping up — what you can do right now

• Check your cupboards: Do you have the Taste the Difference Belgian Milk Chocolate Honeycomb Pretzel with batch L159922, best‑before April 2025? If yes → do not eat it.

• Return it: Use your receipt or just bring the item back to any Sainsbury’s store for a full refund.

• For other recall‑listed items: review Sainsbury’s recall page or call customer service to verify whether your batch is affected.

• Stay tuned: More clarity may emerge on any other “do not use” warnings — keep an eye on FSA alerts or Sainsbury’s.

• Share the info: If a friend or family member shops at Sainsbury’s, tell them about the pretzel recall. Even if they didn’t buy it, awareness helps everyone.