A batch of Doritos Chilli Heatwave has been recalled after bags were filled with the wrong flavour, leaving them a potential danger to anyone with a dairy allergy.

The problem is a mispacking error. Some bags labelled as Chilli Heatwave actually contain Tangy Cheese tortilla chips, which are made with milk.

Because milk does not appear anywhere on the Chilli Heatwave ingredients list, a shopper with an allergy or intolerance has no way of knowing it is in there.

The batch to check

Only one batch is affected. It is the 140g bag of Doritos Chilli Heatwave Flavour Corn Chips, carrying the batch code GBC 209 184C.

The batch has a best before date of December 5, 2026 while the country of origin is listed as the UK.

If you have a bag matching that description at home and anyone in the household has a milk allergy or intolerance, do not eat it. Manufacturer PepsiCo has asked customers to return the product to the shop where it was bought for a full refund.

Bags with different batch codes or best before dates are not part of the recall.

Why milk matters

Milk allergy is the most common food allergy among children, which is part of the reason food safety authorities treat undeclared dairy so seriously.

According to Allergy UK, most reactions are mild, but they can be moderate or severe. Milder symptoms include an itchy mouth, tongue or throat, swollen lips, a raised itchy rash, nausea, vomiting, a runny nose and sneezing.

Severe reactions, known as anaphylaxis, can involve swelling of the tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or a change in the voice, noisy or laboured breathing and dizziness. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and requires an immediate call to 999 or 112.

PepsiCo has also been advised to contact allergy support organisations so their members are told about the recall.

Anyone who is unsure whether their bag is affected should check the batch code on the back of the pack before eating.