Hot cross buns are a wheat product, so a coeliac shopper would give them a miss regardless. This recall is aimed at a narrower group: people who specifically react to barley. Waitrose & Partners is recalling its 4 Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns after it emerged that the buns contain barley that isn't mentioned on the label. Barley is one of the gluten-containing cereals, and for anyone allergic to it, an undeclared source like this is a genuine health risk. If you've got a pack at home, here's how to sort it.
The recall applies to packs with a best before date of 6 June 2026. It covers stores across England, Scotland and Wales. Check the date printed on the packaging before you decide what to do with it.
If you have an allergy to barley or other gluten-containing cereals:
For more information, call Waitrose Customer Care on 0800 188 884, option 4.
Gluten gets talked about as one thing, but the allergen rules treat each cereal separately, wheat, barley, rye and oats among them. Someone can react to barley specifically while being fine with other grains, which is exactly why it has to be named on the label. Barley turns up in malt, in some flours and bread improvers, and in seasonal bakes like hot cross buns, so it isn't always obvious where it's hiding. The fix here is simple enough, a clearer label, but until that happens the affected packs need to go back. If you or someone in your household manages a cereal allergy, the FSA alerts page is the best place to keep tabs on what's been pulled from shelves.