Popular ice cream urgently recalled over health risks

A supermarket chain has issued an urgent recall on a popular line of ice cream which is sold at its outlets.

Aldi in the UK has said that Gianni's Cheeky Monkey Ice Cream has an issue in the recipe that means it may not be safe for some people to eat.

Recalls are not unusual where there has been an issue in the production process.

In some cases, a batch may have become contaminated with a kind of bacteria, or some other defect which is only realised after the food is sent out.

For the Gianni's Cheeky Monkey Ice Cream it's not so much an issue of contamination which is creating the risk.

This ice cream has been recalled (Aldi)

The ice cream may pose a risk to people who have coeliac disease or an intolerance to gluten as it contains undeclared wheat.

While foods that pose this risk can of course be sold in supermarkets, they have to be labelled as not suitable for people who can't eat gluten.

Unfortunately, it emerged that Gianni's Cheeky Monkey Ice Cream did in fact contain gluten, but there was no warning for this on the label.

That meant that someone who can't eat gluten may believe it to be safe for them to eat, when it isn't.

The recall, which affects in England, Scotland, and Wales, was issued by the Food Standards Agency, and affects the 500ml packs and products with a best before date of 14 August 2027.

A statement of the recall says: "Aldi are recalling the above product. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product.

The ice cream needed to be recalled (Diamond Sky Images/Getty Images)

"These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product."

The advice also urges anyone who cannot eat gluten who has bought the product 'do not eat them', advising: "Instead, return the product to their nearest Aldi store for a full refund."

It adds: "Sometimes there will be a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold.

"Then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product).

"Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk.

"When there is a food allergy risk, the FSA will issue an Allergy Alert."

Aldi apologised for the recall, saying the product did not meet its 'normal high standards'.