Pesto is one of those products you reach for without really thinking, a quick stir through pasta, a spoonful on toast, a dollop on a chicken breast. Which is why this recall matters. Filippo Berio UK is pulling one batch of its Hot Chilli Pesto after it emerged that the product contains fish that isn't listed anywhere on the label. For anyone with a fish allergy, that's exactly the sort of hidden ingredient the labelling system is supposed to catch.
Only this single batch is affected, other Filippo Berio products and other batches of the Hot Chilli Pesto are fine. The batch code is printed on the jar, so a quick look at the lid or base will tell you whether yours is part of the recall.
If you have a fish allergy:
The best-before date on this batch is 15 May 2028, nearly two years from now. That's typical for an oil-based jarred sauce, but it does mean the affected stock will be sitting in cupboards for a long time before any natural deadline forces it out. There's no rush of imminent use-by dates clearing fridges this week; there's just a jar at the back of the cupboard, waiting.
If you're someone with a fish allergy who keeps a stash of pestos and pasta sauces in rotation, this is one to check now rather than later. Pesto is a slightly unusual place to find fish, but not unheard of, anchovies turn up in plenty of Italian sauces, and the line between "traditional ingredient" and "undeclared allergen" comes down entirely to what's printed on the jar. The FSA alerts page is the single most reliable place to keep tabs on these, and the email signup is worth the thirty seconds if you have any allergies in the family.