Tesco has issued an urgent 'do not eat' warning and recalled three of its popular pâté products following an alert from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The supermarket giant is urging customers to return the items immediately due to a potential food safety risk.
Which Products Are Affected?
The recall, announced by the FSA on Saturday, January 3, 2026, specifically concerns three varieties of Tesco-branded pâté. All products share the same pack size and use-by date.
The affected items are:
- Tesco Coarse Farmhouse Pâté 170g
- Tesco Coarse Ardennes Pâté 170g
- Tesco Smooth Chicken Liver Pâté 170g
All packs have a use-by date of January 5, 2026 printed on them. The FSA and Tesco have confirmed that no other products or batch codes are involved in this recall.
Reason for the Food Safety Warning
The recall was initiated because the products were labelled with an incorrect 'use-by' date. This error means the pâtés may pose a microbiological risk, rendering them unsafe for consumption.
In its product recall notice, the FSA stated clearly: "The products may pose a microbiological risk, making them unsafe to eat." Tesco's own notice echoed this warning, confirming the products are potentially unsafe.
What Should Customers Do?
Both Tesco and the food watchdog have issued clear instructions for anyone who has purchased the affected pâtés.
The primary instruction is to not consume the products. Instead, customers should return the items to any Tesco store for a full refund. A receipt is not required to process the return.
For further information, shoppers are advised to contact Tesco directly via the contact page on its official website: tesco.com/help/contact.
Tesco has apologised for the inconvenience caused, stating: "We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused." The supermarket has assured the public that it is working closely with the FSA to resolve the issue.
