ASDA Beer Battered Cod Fishcakes Recalled Over Plastic and Metal Contamination

Two contaminants is one too many. ASDA is recalling its Exceptional by ASDA Beer Battered Cod Fishcakes after the product was found to potentially contain pieces of plastic or metal, a dual hazard that's especially unwelcome in a chilled fish product with use-by dates falling this week. If you've got these in the fridge, this is one to deal with tonight rather than over the weekend.

What's Affected

• Product: Exceptional by ASDA Beer Battered Cod Fishcakes
• Pack size: 290g
• Use-by dates: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 May 2026

Every pack with a use-by between 1 and 5 May 2026 is included. Check the top of the pack for the date, if it falls anywhere in that range, it's part of the recall.

What You Should Do

• Don't eat them. Plastic or metal fragments can cause cuts to the mouth, throat, or digestive tract, and unlike spoiled fish, you won't be able to tell by smell or sight.
• Return them to your nearest ASDA for a full refund. Point-of-sale notices are up in stores, so customer service staff are aware of the recall and will sort the refund quickly.
• Already eaten one? If you've experienced any pain in your mouth, throat, or stomach, or felt anything hard while chewing, see your GP and mention the possibility of physical contamination.
• Check the freezer too. If you've moved a pack to the freezer to extend its life, the recall still applies, the use-by date on the original packaging is what matters.

For more information, ASDA Customer Relations can be reached on 0330 053 0111.

Short Shelf Life, Sharp Window

Most contamination recalls give households weeks or months of buffer to act. This one doesn't. With use-by dates running from today through Tuesday, the affected stock is going to clear itself out of fridges within days, which is good in the sense that the danger window is short, but bad in the sense that the recall has to land before the product gets eaten.

If you shop at ASDA and pick up chilled fish products, take a minute to check the fridge now rather than later. The five-day use-by spread means tonight's dinner is exactly the sort of thing that could be affected. And as ever, the FSA alerts page is the single most reliable place to keep an eye on what's been pulled from shelves, a quick check now and then is worth the time.