HUNDREDS of Marks & Spencer stores across the country are caught up in a food health scare — over mushroom pies.
The chain is pulling its £2.75 Plant Kitchen pastries as they contain soya, which is not mentioned on the label.
This is a potentially life-threatening ingredient for anyone with a soya allergy.
In rare cases, it results in anaphylaxis, which can kill in minutes.
The Government’s Food Standards Agency said: “If you have bought a 200g pie — with a use-by date of April 12, 16, 18 or 22 — and have an allergy to soya, do not eat it.
“Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a refund.”
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M&S apologised and said it takes customers’ safety “very seriously”.
Anaphylaxis UK warned: “There are two types of soya allergy: immediate and delayed.
“Immediate soya allergy happens when the body’s immune system wrongly identifies soya as a threat and produces an antibody.
“Delayed soya allergy is not very well understood. Although the immune system is probably involved, the antibodies that lead to immediate reactions are not.
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“Symptoms take much longer to come on, and usually appear hours to days after eating soya.
“This type of allergy doesn’t lead to anaphylaxis and is not life threatening.”