TK Maxx sends urgent food warning after popular tea 'might contain insects'

TK Maxx has urged its customers to return tubs of loose leaf tea after the product was found to contain insects.

Kintra Foods' Organic Premium Leaf Teas are to be recalled from both TK Maxx and Homesense stores after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed some tubs were "found to contain insects".

Selected batches include the 60g 'Calm & Relax' variety with batch codes 6057, 6071, 6118, 6126 and 6207. The 40g 'Chamomile' boxes with batch codes 5887 and 6111, and the 40g 'Sleepy' boxes with batches 6058, 6102 and 6125, have also been recalled. The FSA confirmed insects may be present in these products, which makes them unsafe to consume.

The agency added that point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores selling the products. These notices will explain to customers why the products are being pulled, and advise them what to do if they've already bought the teas.

Insects were found in Kintra Foods Organic Premium Leaf Teas

Multiple batches were affected

The FSA has advised those customers not to consume the products. It said: "If you have bought any of the above products do not consume them. Instead, return them to any TK Maxx or Home Sense store for a full refund. For further information, please contact TK Maxx/Homesense Customer Services on 01923 473561 or [email protected]."

TK Maxx and Homesense said in a recall notice: "We are recalling selected batches of the above products due to a food safety risk. Some products from these batches have been found to contain insects. The products were on sale in our stores between April 2024 and June 2024. " The notice concluded: "Please stop using it immediately and return to any TK Maxx or Homesense store for a full refund."

The FSA typically withdraws (pulls products from shelves) or recalls a product (asks customers to return it) when a food product is found to have an issue. The agency usually issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food.

In some cases, a 'Food Alert for Action' is issued, which gives local authorities details of specific action to be taken on behalf of shoppers.