Asda Recalls McGees Steak Burgers Over Undeclared Soya and Gluten Allergens

Asda has pulled McGees Steak Burgers from shelves across the UK after discovering undeclared soya and gluten in certain batches — a potentially life-threatening oversight for people with coeliac disease or severe allergies. The recall, announced on February 12, 2025, affects packs with best before dates of 14 February 2025 and 16 February 2025, all bearing the barcode 5060234451813. No illnesses have been reported, but the risk is real. One wrong bite could send someone to hospital — or worse.

What Went Wrong?

The issue stems from a packaging and ingredient mix-up at the supplier level. According to Asda’s official recall notice, some packs of McGees Steak Burgers contain traces of soya and gluten that aren’t listed on the label. That’s not a minor error. It’s a breach of UK food safety law. The Food Standards Agency requires full allergen disclosure — no exceptions. Missing even one allergen can trigger a recall, and for good reason. Around 1 in 100 people in the UK have coeliac disease, and another 1 in 20 have a diagnosed gluten intolerance. Soy allergies, while less common, still affect tens of thousands. For them, this isn’t about inconvenience. It’s about survival.

The affected burgers were sold exclusively in Asda stores — no other retailers carried them. That’s a relief, in a way. It limits exposure. But with Asda operating 631 stores nationwide, that still means thousands of households could have the product in their freezers right now. The recall notice, published on Asda’s corporate website and confirmed by the Food Standards Agency, doesn’t mention how the error slipped through. Was it a labelling glitch? A supplier substitution? The details are still unclear. But the consequences aren’t.

How to Tell if You Have a Problem

If you bought McGees Steak Burgers between late January and mid-February 2025, check the packaging. Look for the best before date — either 14/02/2025 or 16/02/2025. Then find the barcode: 5060234451813. If both match, don’t cook them. Don’t even open them. Just put them back in the freezer and head to your nearest Asda.

Asda’s instruction is simple: return them for a full refund. No receipt needed. No questions asked. That’s standard procedure under UK law, and it’s been followed in similar cases before — like the ASDA Chicken Dinners recall (FSA-AA-47-2024), which also involved undeclared gluten and egg. That one affected over 10,000 units. This one? Likely fewer, but the risk profile is just as high.

Why This Matters Beyond the Fridge

This isn’t just about one batch of burgers. It’s about trust. Supermarkets like Asda — owned by Walmart Inc. and headquartered in Leeds — are expected to be gatekeepers of food safety. When they fail, it’s not just a PR problem. It’s a systemic one. Suppliers are supposed to provide accurate labels. Manufacturers are supposed to verify them. Stores are supposed to audit them. Somewhere in that chain, a step was missed. And now, people who rely on those labels are being put at risk.

It’s also a reminder that allergen labelling isn’t optional. In 2024, the Food Standards Agency recorded 127 allergen-related recalls across the UK. Over half involved gluten or dairy. Soya was in the top five. And every single one of them could have been prevented with better communication between supplier and retailer.

What Happens Next?

Asda hasn’t said whether it will change its supplier vetting process or increase random audits. That’s the big unanswered question. The recall remains active as of November 29, 2025, meaning consumers are still being warned to check their freezers. There’s no end date in sight — which is normal for allergen recalls. Products can sit in homes for months after the best before date. The real danger isn’t spoilage. It’s the hidden allergen.

Meanwhile, the Food Standards Agency is likely reviewing Asda’s internal compliance protocols. They don’t publicly name companies for punishment unless there’s negligence. But behind closed doors? There’s probably a lot of tense meetings happening in London right now.

What You Can Do

If you have the product: return it. If you don’t know whether you have it: check your freezer. If you’ve already eaten it and feel unwell — nausea, swelling, trouble breathing — seek medical help immediately. And if you’re someone who avoids gluten or soy? This is the kind of incident that makes you double-check every label. Every. Single. Time.