Ready Brek recalled due to possible insect contamination

Ready Brek and Tesco are recalling certain batches of porridge due to possible insect contamination across Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

On Tuesday (13 October), the Food Safety Authority of Ireland released a notice explaining that flour beetles—small, reddish-brown insects known to infest stored grain, flour, cereals, and other dried goods—may be present in various boxes of Ready Brek and Tesco Super Smooth Porridge.

Flour beetles, also known as weevils or grain beetles, can cause allergic reactions, leaving raised red, itchy marks on the skin, often mistaken for bites, as per PEST UK.

The health authority advises throwing away all stored food products and thoroughly cleaning your kitchen shelves and cupboards to get rid of the beetles.

(Weetabix)

Various-sized boxes of Ready Brek Original and Tesco Super Smooth Porridge with different best before dates are impacted by the recall. These are as follows:

Ready Brek Original - 750g

Best before dates: 8, 9, 29 July; 4, 8, 20 August; 15 and 16 September 2027

Ready Brek Original - 450g

Best before dates: 1, 2, 21, 22 July; 18 and 19 August; 17 and 22 September; 1 October 2027.

Tesco Super Smooth Porridge - 750g

All best before dates 30 June to 25 August 2027 inclusive

Retailers have been advised to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.

(Tesco)

Customers who require further information on the recall are advised to contact the Weetabix Consumer Care Team on 0800212457 or email [email protected].

Those in Ireland can contact Tesco Customer Services on 1800248123.

FOODbible has contacted Tesco and Ready Brek producers Weetabix for comment.

Reddit weighs in on porridge recall

Redditors have been weighing in on the news that their favourite breakfast may be contaminated with flour beetles.

“Bought Ready Brek a couple of weeks ago and have eaten maybe 4 bowls’ worth. Received an email today saying the product has been recalled due to the possibility of ‘flour beetles’ and saying not to eat any of the product… can I still get my money back even though I’ve eaten some of the product already?,” asked a Redditor.

Others who have consumed the recalled product have weighed in, with one typing: “Yes. I had 1/4ish left”

“I bought ready-brek a few weeks ago, ate a bowl and hours later was violently puking. I blamed the milk because in my mind how would oats do this, but never made sense to me since milk was fresh… through it all out shortly after,” a second remarked.

Another added: “How much is it really? Just throw it away if you're worried.”

“If you have the original packaging displaying the date and batch number, you can, yes,” a fourth said.