Urgent ‘do not eat’ warning to parents over lollipops made with sharp sticks that could injure kids

A brand of fruit-flavoured lollipops have been urgently recalled because of their ‘sharp’ sticks.

Health chiefs have warned parents that the pointy ends of Candy Stars Lollipops could injure children.

The product, made by Harlow-based Bumerang Ltd, was given a ‘do not eat’ label through the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Apple, orange, strawberry and assorted fruit flavours with a ‘best before’ date of December 15 2024 should be returned to stores, where customers can get a refund.

The affected treats are sold in 90g packs that contain three lollipops and have the batch code 816123. 

The FSA, which published the alert, issues recalls when problems are spotted with food that means it should not be sold.

It warned that the lollipop stick ‘contains a sharp end inside the product which could be injurious to health’.

‘If you have bought the above product do not eat them. Instead, return them to the store from where it was bought for a full refund,’ the FSA added.

Bumerang is recalling the products and notices will be put up in shops that sell the lollipops, explaining what customers can do if they have bought it. Health chiefs did not immediately say which stores sell the lollipops.

It comes as the FSA last night urged customers not to consume a protein powder over fears it contains ‘potentially lethal’ amounts of caffeine.

Home Bargains has recalled 1.5kg bags of Sci-Mx Nutrition Ultra Muscle Strawberry Flavour with a best before date of March 2025.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said testing of the product found that it contained over 5,000mg (5g) of caffeine per serving.

If consumers followed advice on the packaging to have two helpings per day, this would give them a daily dose of over 10,000mg (10g).

For most individuals, 10g of caffeine can be a lethal dose, the FSA warned, but doses as low as 3g have been identified as lethal for certain sensitive individuals.

FSA head of incidents Tina Potter said: ‘If you have purchased this product, do not take the risk of consuming it.

‘High levels of caffeine can cause anxiety, sleeplessness, agitation, palpitations, diarrhoea and restlessness, and individuals with a mental health condition can experience worsened psychosis.

‘In this case, the exceptionally high levels of caffeine could mean the consequences are even more severe and perhaps even fatal.’

Affected products can be identified by the batch code, W110429, which can be found next to the best before date on the packaging.