Supermarket chain Waitrose has issued an urgent product recall for two lines of its bottled water over fears they could contain dangerous fragments of glass.
Immediate 'Do Not Drink' Warning Issued
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has told customers who purchased Waitrose No1 Deeside Mineral Water or Waitrose No1 Deeside Sparkling Water in 750ml bottles to avoid consuming them immediately. The warning states the bottles "could contain shards of glass" upon opening, posing a serious risk of injury.
Signs alerting shoppers to the safety hazard are being displayed in all relevant Waitrose stores. The retailer has advised anyone who has bought the affected products to package them up and return them to their local shop for a full refund, no receipt required.
"We apologise that it has been necessary to recall this product and for the inconvenience caused," a spokesperson for Waitrose said.
Affected Products and Batch Codes
The recall applies specifically to bottles produced for Waitrose, which are sourced from natural springs in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland and typically retail for around £1.60.
The FSA has released a list of specific batch codes and best-before dates for the recalled items. Customers are urged to check their bottles against the following information:
Deeside Mineral Water: Look for batch codes NOV 2027 28, DEC 2027 01, DEC 2027 02, DEC 2027 10, DEC 2027 11, and DEC 2027 16. The best-before dates are in November and December 2027.
Deeside Sparkling Water: Look for batch codes DEC 2027 01, DEC 2027 03, DEC 2027 12, DEC 2027 15, and DEC 2027 25. The best-before date is in December 2027.
The recall covers bottles sold in England, Scotland, and Wales.
What Customers Should Do Next
The primary instruction from both Waitrose and the FSA is clear: do not drink the water. The potential presence of glass makes it unsafe for consumption.
Shoppers should return the product to any Waitrose branch to claim their money back. For further information or clarification, concerned customers can contact Waitrose Customer Care on 0800 188 884 and select Option 4.
This recall highlights the critical importance of robust food safety protocols and swift action by retailers and regulators when a potential risk to public health is identified.
