'Potentially lethal' protein powder pulled from shelves in urgent warning

11 July 2023 , 07:49

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A protein powder is being pulled from shelves (Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)

Shoppers are being told to return a “potentially lethal” protein powder bought from a popular high street store.

Home Bargains have now pulled the 1.5kg bags of Sci-MX Nutrition Ultra Muscle in Strawberry flavour, from their shelves due to the levels of caffeine.

The dangerous batch is dated best before March 2025 and has batch code W110429.

The Food Standards Agency said testing of the product found that it contained over 5,000mg of caffeine per serving.

If consumers followed advice on the packaging to have two helpings per day, this would give them a daily dose of over 10,000mg or 10g – for most individuals, 10g of caffeine can be a lethal dose, the FSA warned.

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Bags of Sci-MX Nutrition Ultra Muscle in Strawberry flavour are being recalled (Sci-Mx Nutrition Ultra)

But doses as low as 3g have been identified as lethal for certain sensitive individuals.

FSA head of incidents Tina Potter said: “If you have purchased this product, do not take the risk of consuming it.

“High levels of caffeine can cause anxiety, sleeplessness, agitation, palpitations, diarrhoea and restlessness, and individuals with a mental health condition can experience worsened psychosis – caffeine can reduce how well your antipsychotic medications work.

“In this case, the exceptionally high levels of caffeine could mean the consequences are even more severe and perhaps even fatal.

“Children, or other people sensitive to caffeine, should only consume caffeine in moderation.

“Pregnant and breast-feeding women are advised not to have more than 200mg of caffeine over the course of a day”

The Food Standards Agency advised customers to contact Sci-Mx customer careline at [email protected] for a full refund and urged shoppers to "not consume the product if you have bought it".

Affected products can be identified by the batch code, W110429, which can be found next to the best before date on the packaging.

Meanwhile, Tesco asked customers to return three Free From snacks as they were found to contain gluten - something which isn't mentioned on the label.

"Tesco is recalling Tesco Free From Onion Rings, Tesco Free From Cheese Flavour Balls, and Tesco Free From Bacon Rashers because they contain gluten which is not mentioned on the label. This means the products are a possible health risk for anyone with coeliac disease, and/or an allergy or intolerance to gluten," stated the Food Standards Agency on June 30.

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