Tesco Recalls Three Pâtés Over Incorrect Use-By Dates

The whole point of a use-by date is that it tells you the truth. Tesco is recalling three of its own-label pâtés after they were printed with the wrong use-by date, which means a product that looks fine on paper could already be unsafe. If you've picked up any of these over the festive period, the date on the pack can't be trusted, so don't go by it.

What's Affected

• Product: Tesco Coarse Farmhouse Pâté, Tesco Coarse Ardennes Pâté, and Tesco Smooth Chicken Liver Pâté
• Pack size: 170g
• Use-by date: 05 January 2026

All three are 170g chilled pâtés carrying a use-by date of 5 January 2026. That printed date is the very thing that's wrong here, so check the product name and pack size rather than relying on the date to clear your tub.

What You Should Do

• Don't eat it. A wrong use-by date on a chilled product means it could be past its real safe-to-eat window without you knowing. Pâté is a higher-risk food for bugs like listeria, and you won't be able to tell from the look or smell that anything is off.
• Return it to your nearest Tesco for a full refund. The recall covers the named products, so take the tub back rather than binning it if you want your money back.
• Already eaten some? Most people will be fine, but if you develop symptoms like stomach cramps, sickness, diarrhoea, or a fever, speak to your GP. Anyone pregnant, elderly, or with a weakened immune system should be especially alert, as listeria can be more serious for them.
• Only worried about these three? Other Tesco pâtés aren't part of this recall. It's specifically the 170g Coarse Farmhouse, Coarse Ardennes, and Smooth Chicken Liver tubs carrying the 5 January 2026 date.

For more information, contact Tesco through the contact page on its website at tesco.com/help/contact.

Why a Date Error Is Worse Than It Sounds

A bit of plastic in a fishcake is obvious once you know to look. A wrong date is sneakier, because everything about the pack tells you it's safe right up until it isn't. Use-by dates exist precisely for products like pâté, where bacteria can grow to dangerous levels well before there's any visible spoilage. That's different from a best-before date, which is about quality rather than safety. When the safety date itself is wrong, the usual "give it a sniff" instinct lets you down completely. If you keep chilled deli items like pâté in the fridge, it's worth a quick check of what's in there, and the FSA alerts page is the best place to stay on top of recalls like this one.