Shoppers across the UK are being advised not to consume Newcastle Brown Ale following a recall due to concerns that some bottles may be contaminated with glass.
Heineken UK, the manufacturer of the popular beer, issued the "do not consume" warning after discovering that the glass in certain 550ml bottles could fracture when opened. The issue was identified after at least three customers reported incidents of the glass breaking upon removing the bottle’s steel cap.
As a precaution, the affected bottles—sold for £1.75—were swiftly removed from shelves in major supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose, and Aldi.
The recall specifically applies to bottles with the batch numbers L4321, L4322, L4323, L4324, L4325, L4326 and a best-before date of November 30, 2025.
In addition to supermarkets, pubs and bars that stock Newcastle Brown Ale have been instructed to inspect their inventory for any bottles from the affected batches.
Heineken UK described the recall as a "precautionary measure" and urged consumers to return unopened bottles to the point of purchase for a full refund.
In a statement, the company emphasized:
“Safety is our top priority. While only a small number of bottles are affected by this potential safety issue, we are recalling this specific batch of Newcastle Brown Ale bottles as a precaution.
“We strongly advise customers not to consume the product. Unopened bottles can be returned to the retailer for a refund. We have also asked all retailers and customers to stop the sale of stock from these batches immediately.”
Heineken added that it is working closely with regulatory authorities and has provided guidance to retailers and customers on how to manage the recall process.
Both Tesco and Sainsbury’s have issued notices to customers, urging them to return the product for a full refund.
Heineken concluded by apologizing for the inconvenience caused and reassured customers that they are taking all necessary steps to address the issue. Photo by Kuriosatempel, Wikimedia commons.