Baxters has recalled its Chef Selections Cullen Skink soup after a manufacturing fault that may cause the cans to spoil, swell and rupture. The Food Standards Agency alert was issued on Friday 6 November 2026, and shoppers across England, Wales and Scotland have been told not to eat the affected tins.
The recall covers a single batch of the 400g cans, marked with batch code L07XC and a best-before date of April 2029. Supermarkets including Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons have put recall notices in stores and online, and no other Baxters product is affected.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Baxters Chef Selections Cullen Skink soup |
| Pack size | 400g can |
| Batch code | L07XC |
| Best before | April 2029 |
| Fault | Manufacturing fault; spoilage may cause unpleasant odour and flavour, swelling and possible rupture |
| Alert issued | 6 November 2026 — Food Standards Agency (ref FSA-PRIN-52-2026) and Food Standards Scotland |
| Where sold | Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons and other retailers, in store and online |
| Advice | Do not eat it and do not open it; dispose of the full can without opening |
| Replacement | Baxters Customer Care on 0800 389 8389 or CCUK@baxters.com |
| Other Baxters products | Not affected |
Which Tins Are Affected by the Baxters Cullen Skink Soup Recall?
Only one batch is involved, so the code on the base of the can is the check that matters. The affected tins are the 400g cans of Baxters Chef Selections Cullen Skink soup carrying batch code L07XC and a best-before date of April 2029.
Shoppers should check the code rather than the shop where they bought the soup. The same batch was sold through several retailers, so a tin bought anywhere could be affected if it carries that code. Cans with a different batch code or best-before date are not part of this recall.
How a Manufacturing Fault Can Make a Can Swell and Burst
The Food Standards Agency says a manufacturing fault has occurred that may cause the cans to spoil, swell and rupture. The problem is confined to the batch listed in the table above, and the advice is to treat any can from that batch as affected, even if it looks normal.
A swollen or bulging can is a recognised warning sign that the contents have spoiled, even if the tin has not yet burst. Food safety guidance treats any can that looks swollen, dented at the seam or leaking as unsafe, and the advice is to throw it away rather than taste it to check.
What to Do If the Soup Is Already in Your Cupboard
Anyone who finds an affected can should not eat the soup and should not open the tin. The Food Standards Agency says to dispose of the full can and product without opening it, and to place the full can in a bag and put it in an external bin.
Baxters is offering replacements to shoppers who bought the affected batch. Customers can contact the Baxters Customer Care team on 0800 389 8389 or by email at CCUK@baxters.com, and point-of-sale notices in stores explain the same steps. The FSA alert does not link any illnesses to the soup; the risk it describes is spoilage and cans swelling or rupturing.
Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons Put Up Recall Notices
Tesco and Waitrose were among the first retailers to warn customers, with notices telling shoppers not to eat the affected soup and to return it or contact Baxters. Morrisons also stocked the product, and notices have been placed in all retail stores that sell it, in store and online.
The recall is a reminder that a single batch code can reach many shelves through different shops. Because the soup is a long-life tinned product with a best-before date of April 2029, affected cans could sit in cupboards for months, so the notices are aimed at shoppers who bought the soup weeks ago as well as this week.
A Second Food-Safety Alert in a Fortnight for UK Shoppers
The soup recall follows a separate FSA alert about salmonella in imported eggs, reported on 29 October 2026 after the UK Health Security Agency linked the strain to 78 confirmed cases in England and Wales. That alert covered eggs from one Ukrainian producer and told consumers to check the code stamped on the shell.
The two alerts are unrelated, and they show how the FSA uses batch codes and shell codes to trace a problem to one producer rather than an entire food category. In both cases the practical advice is the same: check the code, do not eat the affected product, and follow the recall notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Baxters soup is being recalled?
Baxters Chef Selections Cullen Skink soup in 400g cans, with batch code L07XC and a best-before date of April 2029.
Why are the cans being recalled?
A manufacturing fault may cause the soup to spoil, giving it an unpleasant odour and flavour and making cans swell and possibly rupture.
What should I do if I have one of the affected cans?
Do not eat it and do not open it. Dispose of the full can without opening it, placing it in a bag in an external bin. Contact Baxters Customer Care on 0800 389 8389 or at CCUK@baxters.com for a replacement.
Where was the soup sold?
At Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons and other retailers, in store and online. Recall notices have been posted in the stores that sell it.
Are other Baxters soups or products affected?
No. The recall covers only the single batch of Chef Selections Cullen Skink soup described above, and no other Baxters product is affected.
Myth-Busting
Myth: A swollen can is safe if the soup inside smells fine.
No. Spoilage is not always obvious by smell, and the FSA advice is to dispose of the full can without opening it. A swollen can is itself a sign that the contents may have spoiled.
Myth: Only cans bought at Tesco are affected.
No. The batch code decides whether a can is affected, not the shop. Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons all stocked the same batch, and other retailers sold it too.
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