Source: The Guardian (UK)

Tesco has recalled its own-brand chocolate ice-cream cones after painkillers were found in them. The supermarket said it has launched an "urgent investigation."

The product has been taken off shelves and removed from sale online, and customers who bought it have been asked to return it to the store.

The UK Food Standards Agency said Tesco took the measure after tablets were found in two individual Tesco chocolate and nut ice-cream cones.

Tesco said the products were being recalled in the UK and Ireland. A spokesman could not say how many products were affected, but hinted that it would be a significant number.

The products are supplied by R&R Ice Cream, which was formed in 2007. It also makes a range of Nestlé products, including Fab lollies, and ranges for Ribena, Thorntons and others.

Tesco recently reported half year profits fell by nearly a quarter, with sales falling in every country it operates in. Overall profits dropped 24.5% to £1.38bn. This contrasted with a better performance for rival Sainsbury, against which Tesco has vowed to fight back in the UK market.

Tesco's profits also fell 70% on the European mainland and it has largely failed in the USA.

A Tesco spokesman said: "As a precautionary measure, we have issued a product recall on a Tesco chocolate and nut ice-cream cone product after two individual cones were found to contain a tablet for pain relief. We are urgently investigating this incident with our supplier and ask customers to return this product to their local store."

The recall affects all best-before dates up to and including July 2014. No other Tesco or R&R products are known to be affected. There was no comment from R&R on Friday night [Nov. 15, 2013].