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.”
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.
“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.”
