An urgent safety warning has been issued to Home Bargains shoppers after a popular health product was found to contain levels of caffeine which could kill. The discount store recalled the Sci-Mx Nutrition Ultra Muscle Strawberry Flavour last week warning it was unsafe to consume.
However the Food Standards Agency has now issued a fresh alert urging consumers to avoid the "potentially lethal" protein powder. It said: "The Food Standards Agency is urging consumers not to consume a recalled protein powder because it contains caffeine at levels that could be fatal.
"Home Bargains has recalled 1.5 kg bags of Sci-Mx Nutrition Ultra Muscle Strawberry Flavour, with a best before date of March 2025. Testing of the product found that it contained over 5000 mg (5 g) 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 10,000 mg, (10g). For most individuals, 10 g of caffeine can be a lethal dose. However, doses as low as 3 g 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.
“In this case, the exceptionally high levels of caffeine could mean the consequences are even more severe and perhaps even fatal.”
It said the affected products can be identified by the batch code, W110429, which can be found next to the best-before date on the packaging.
In last week's product recall shoppers were warned of "high levels of caffeine in the product". It said: "Too much caffeine can produce anxiety, sleeplessness, agitation, palpitations, diarrhoea and restlessness. Individuals with a mental health condition caffeine can experience worsened psychosis and result in the need for higher amounts of medication. Caffeine can reduce how well your antipsychotic medications work.
"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."
It added: "If you have bought the above product, please do not consume it. Instead, contact Sci-Mx customer careline at customerservices@sci-mx.co.uk and they will arrange a full refund."
