Supermarket chain Waitrose has issued an urgent warning to its customers, advising them not to consume specific bottles of its premium Deeside mineral water due to a potential safety hazard. The retailer has initiated a product recall over fears that the water could contain small fragments of glass.
Product Recall Details and Batch Codes
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published a formal product alert concerning 750ml bottles of Waitrose No 1 Deeside mineral water, in both still and sparkling varieties. The alert states that the presence of glass particles makes the products unsafe for consumption.
Waitrose has acted swiftly, removing the affected bottles from sale across all its stores. Customers who have already purchased the water are being instructed to return it to any Waitrose branch to receive a full refund. Alternatively, they can contact the retailer's customer care line for further guidance.
The FSA and Waitrose have identified specific batch codes that are potentially contaminated. Consumers are urged to check their bottles immediately.
For the still mineral water, the affected batch codes are:
- NOV2027 28
- DEC2027 01
- DEC2027 02
- DEC2027 10
- DEC2027 11
- DEC2027 16
For the sparkling mineral water, the affected batch codes are:
- DEC2027 01
- DEC2027 03
- DEC2027 12
- DEC2027 15
- DEC2027 25
Source and Previous Safety Incidents
The Waitrose No 1 Deeside mineral water is sourced from a spring located near Balmoral Castle within Scotland's Cairngorms National Park and is bottled exclusively for the supermarket. The product typically retails for approximately £1.60 per bottle.
In a statement, Waitrose apologised for the inconvenience caused by the recall. "We apologise that it has been necessary to recall this product and for the inconvenience caused," a spokesperson said.
This is not the first product recall for Waitrose in recent months. Earlier in December, the supermarket was forced to recall a Santa-themed drinks bottle for safety reasons. In October, a plant-based meat product was withdrawn because it contained undeclared allergens, namely wheat gluten and soy.
Broader Context of Glass Contamination
The issue of glass contamination has also affected other brands recently. In early December, the FSA coordinated the recall of bottles of Disaronno Originale liqueur for the same reason—potential glass fragments.
The FSA's clear advice remains: "If you have bought any of the above products do not drink it. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund." No estimate has been provided regarding the total number of bottles that may be impacted by this safety notice.
