The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising people with peanut allergies not to consume foods that contain mustard, as they may be contaminated with peanuts.

The FSA said mustard ingredients — including mustard powder or flour — can be found in dips, sauces, salads and pre-packaged sandwiches.

Efforts are being made to identify how many products may be affected – about 50 have already been recalled.

The agency says parents of children with peanut allergies should check the labels of the foods they are buying and ask restaurants and take-away outlets about foods that may contain mustard. .

some products Being recalled, or removed from sale, because they may contain peanuts include Domino’s Dips, SPAR Sandwich Fillers and Salads, and Harvester BBQ Sauce.

The Food Standards Agency has traced contaminated mustard material to a producer in India called GT Agro Industries. A company called FGS Ingredients has been identified as supplying mustard ingredients for use in UK food.

Because of how serious an allergic reaction to peanuts can be, the FSA says it is taking a precautionary approach so people with allergies can keep themselves safe.

Rebecca Sudworth, director of food policy at the FSA, said: “People with peanut allergies should not consume products containing mustard until we can identify the individual products affected.

“We will update consumers as soon as we have more information,” he said.

According to the agency, if a food contains mustard, it should be written in bold letters on the package because it is an allergen in itself.

If there is a risk that mustard may inadvertently be present in the food, there will be a “may contain” label for the mustard.

Peanuts are a common cause of food allergies. It is thought that peanut allergies affect one in 50 children, and the ingredient is now banned in many schools.

An allergic reaction occurs when the body reacts to the proteins found in peanuts.

Symptoms can range from mild to very severe in some people.

Common symptoms of food allergies include:

• Feeling dizzy
• skin itching or rashes
• swelling of lips, face and eyes
• cough, shortness of breath, or wheezing
• feeling ill or being ill
• stomach pain
• Diarrhea