Waitrose has recalled two of its own-brand doughnut lines after soya was found in the products without being declared on the packaging, prompting a warning to shoppers with a soya allergy not to eat them.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued the alert on Tuesday 10 November, covering England, Scotland and Wales. The recall applies to Waitrose & Partners Sweet, Fluffy, Golden Ring Doughnuts 5's and Waitrose & Partners Jammy, Messy, Squidgy Doughnuts 5's, both sold in packs of five with best-before dates of 10 and 11 November 2026.

Soya is one of the 14 major allergens that food labels in the UK must declare, and undeclared soya can pose a serious risk to anyone with a soya allergy or intolerance. Waitrose said it was recalling the two lines because of the undeclared allergen and apologised for the inconvenience caused.

What shoppers should do

Anyone who has bought the affected doughnuts and has an allergy to soya should not eat them. Instead, the FSA advises shoppers to return the products to the store where they were bought for a full refund. No receipt is required.

Shoppers who need more information can contact Waitrose Customer Care on 0800 188 884 and select option 4. Waitrose has also contacted the relevant allergy support organisations, which will notify their members about the recall.

Anyone who eats a product containing an undeclared allergen and begins to show symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as hives or difficulty breathing, should seek medical help immediately.

How food recalls work

When a problem is found with a food product that means it should not be sold, it may be withdrawn from shelves or recalled, with customers asked to return it. The FSA issues Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food, and in some cases issues a Food Alert for Action setting out the steps local authorities should take.

The doughnut recall is a reminder to check the label even on familiar products, particularly where an allergen has been missed from the packaging. Shoppers with a soya allergy who have the affected packs at home should return them rather than eating them, even if the best-before date has not yet passed. Soya is widely used in processed foods, so people with an allergy are advised to read ingredient lists carefully and to keep the FSA's allergy alerts in mind when shopping.