Urgent ‘do not eat’ warning for fresh turkey sold at major supermarket as packs wrongly say meat does not go off until June – 6 months after correct use-by date

  • Packs of turkey sold at Lidl Northern Ireland are printed with June use-by date 
  • The NHS warns eating meat passed its use-by date could cause food poisoning 

Packs of fresh turkey breast are being recalled after wrongly being stamped with a use-by date six months after the meat is actually set to go off.

Lidl’s Deluxe Irish Carved Peppered Tukey Breast has been issued with a ‘do not eat’ warning by food safety chiefs.

The date printed on the packaging incorrectly states it goes off on June 25, when it should be labelled January 25.

Officials at the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which published the alert, warned the labelling error makes the meat ‘unsafe to eat’. 

Lidl Northern Ireland has issued a ‘do not eat’ warning for the Deluxe Irish Carved Peppered Tukey Breast

Only 130g packs with the use-by date June 25, 2024 are affected by the recall. They are sold at Lidl in Northern Ireland.

The product can be returned to a Lidl store where a full refund will be given. 

No receipt is needed to return the potentially contaminated item. 

Lidl has issued a point-of sale notice in its retail stores, explaining why the products are being recalled and what to do for those who have bought it. 

The supermarket said: ‘Our supplier, Flamewood is recalling the above use by date of Deluxe Irish Carved Peppered Turkey Breast due to the incorrect use by date printed on the product.’

It added: ‘Lidl wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused.’

The FSA issues food recalls – which ask customers to return a product – when problems are spotted that means a product should not be sold.

It is vital to stick to use-by dates, even if a product looks and smells fine, because it could make you ‘very ill’, it warns. 

Food poisoning is rarely serious and most people get better within a week. 

The symptoms include feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and a high temperature, the NHS says.  

For a use-by date to be valid, customers must stick to a food’s storage instructions, such as refrigerating a product after opening, to stop bacteria from spreading and to avoid food poisoning, the NHS warns.

WHAT IS FOOD POISONING?

Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, such as salmonella or E.coli, or a virus, like the norovirus.

Raw meat and shellfish, unpasteurised milk and ‘ready to eat’ foods, like soft cheeses, are most likely to be contaminated.

Symptoms usually start within two days of eating the food.

These may include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea, which may contain blood or mucus
  • Abdominal pain
  • Loss of energy
  • Aching muscles

Most people do not require treatment and get better within a few days.

They should ensure they rest and drink lots of fluids to combat dehydration.

They should contact their GP if their symptoms become severe or do not improve after several days.

Doctors should be made aware if the elderly, pregnant women, children, or those with an underlying health condition or weakened immune system are affected. 

Food may become contaminated if it is:

  • Not cooked thoroughly
  • Left for too long at room temperature
  • Not sufficiently reheated
  • Eaten passed its ‘use by’ date
  • Touched with contaminated hands
  • Not stored below 5C

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