Waitrose mineral water recall highlights persistent food safety vulnerabilities in UK retail

Waitrose has initiated a product recall affecting 750ml bottles of its No 1 Deeside mineral water following a Food Standards Agency alert regarding potential glass contamination. The supermarket removed the affected stock from shelves and instructed customers who purchased the product to return it for a full refund of approximately £1.60 per bottle.

The mineral water is sourced from a spring near Balmoral Castle in the Cairngorms National Park and bottled exclusively for Waitrose. The FSA issued a consumer alert for both still and sparkling variants, citing the possibility of glass fragments that could render the product unsafe for consumption. The regulatory body advised customers against drinking the water and directed them to return purchases to the point of sale.

Specific batch codes have been identified as potentially affected. Still mineral water batches include NOV2027 28, DEC2027 01, DEC2027 02, DEC2027 10, DEC2027 11, and DEC2027 16. Sparkling variants carry batch codes DEC2027 01, DEC2027 03, DEC2027 12, DEC2027 15, and DEC2027 25. Neither the FSA nor Waitrose provided an estimate of total contaminated units in distribution.

Waitrose issued a statement acknowledging the necessity of the recall and expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to customers. The supermarket’s customer care line remains available for further enquiries regarding the affected products and refund procedures.

This recall represents the third product withdrawal by Waitrose within recent months. In December, the retailer removed a Santa themed drinks bottle for unspecified safety reasons, whilst October saw the recall of a plant based meat alternative containing undeclared wheat gluten and soy. The pattern reflects broader challenges within food and beverage safety compliance across major UK retailers.

Glass contamination incidents have affected other major brands recently. The FSA recalled Disaronno Originale spirit bottles in early December following similar glass shard concerns, indicating this hazard is not isolated to the mineral water sector. These successive recalls raise questions about manufacturing quality control protocols and supply chain oversight within the food and beverage industry.