Dunnes Stores has issued an urgent recall of two of its popular herbs that are often used in winter cooking and Christmas recipes to add warming, aromatic flavours to meats, stews, stuffing, and festive sauces. Dunnes Stores Sage (10g) and Herbes de Provence (14g), sold in Northern Ireland, have been recalled after they were found to potentially contain pieces of blue plastic and large natural stalks and bark, which could pose a ‘serious choking risk’.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed the recall following information from Dunnes’ supplier, GM Marketing, who first alerted the company of the decision to recall some batches of Dunnes Stores Sage on November 17, 2025. The recall was then extended on November 18 to include both Dunnes Stores Sage and Dunnes Stores Herbes de Provence.
The FSA risk statement reads: “These products may contain pieces of blue plastic and large pieces of stalk and bark which present choking hazards and make them unsafe to eat.”
The FSA’s advice to customers also reads: “If you have bought the above products, do not eat them. Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund.”
The affected batches are Dunnes Stores Sage, sold in 10g packs with batch codes L25279228, L25280228, L25307228, and L25308228, which has a best-before date of June 2027, and Dunnes Stores Herbes de Provence, sold in 14g packs with batch code L25315225, which has a best-before date of September 2027.
Customers who have purchased any of the affected products are advised not to eat them. Instead, they should return the items to the Dunnes Stores where they were bought for a full refund, with no receipt required.
Point-of-sale notices explaining the recall are being displayed in stores across Northern Ireland that are selling the products, and these notices provide guidance on what to do if the products have already been purchased.
The company said that the recall is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of its customers.
The retailer added: “We apologise that it has been necessary to recall these products and for the inconvenience caused.”
Sage is a traditional favourite for Christmas stuffing, sausages, roasted vegetables, and gravy, offering a strong, earthy aroma that complements rich, hearty dishes.
Herbes de Provence is a fragrant blend of herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and oregano, commonly used to season meats, roasted vegetables, soups, and sauces, adding a warm and aromatic flavour that is particularly popular during the colder months.
