Heineken UK, a pub, cider, and beer company, has issued a recall for certain bottles of 550ml Newcastle Brown Ale after identifying a potential food safety risk that could harm consumers.

The recall follows the discovery of a defect that could cause the glass to fracture at the bottle's opening when the steel crown is removed.

The defect, confirmed with the bottle supplier, affects a limited number of bottles produced between 16 and 21 November 2024, which were sold in the UK with specific best-before dates and batch numbers.

This recall specifically impacts Newcastle Brown Ale bottles with a best-before date of 30 November 2025.

Heineken UK has taken immediate action to recall the affected product as a precautionary measure, stating that batches produced before and after these dates are not affected.

No other Heineken UK products or Newcastle Brown Ale stock-keeping units are affected by this recall.

The recalled products are distributed through various channels, including supermarkets, online retailers, and on-premises locations such as pubs, bars, and restaurants.

Consumers who have purchased bottles from the affected batches are advised not to consume the product, the company said.

They are instead encouraged to return the unopened bottles to their original point of purchase for a full refund.

A Heineken UK spokesperson said: “Safety is our top priority, and on the basis that a small number of bottles are impacted by this potential safety issue, we are recalling this run of glass bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale as a precaution.

“We urge those consumers in possession of the product not to drink it, but to return the unopened bottles to where they purchased them for a refund. We ask any customers to immediately halt the sale of any stock they hold with these batch numbers.

“We are providing customers guidance on how to register and return affected stock and ask them to contact our Customer Care team with any additional queries. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and are working with the regulatory authorities after alerting them of the matter.”