The dairy company has withdrawn some stock of Clover and Clover Light after shoppers complained of an unpleasant flavour, and is advising customers to throw away affected tubs.
Clover has confirmed that certain batches of its Clover and Clover Light spreads have been removed from shelves after the company identified an issue that “may affect taste and odour”. The move followed online comments from shoppers who said their tubs tasted wrong. In a social media announcement, the company acknowledged a “flavour issue” in “certain batches” but stressed that the product remains “safe to eat”. It is nonetheless advising customers who have bought affected batches to dispose of them.
What shoppers reported
The withdrawal came as customers discussed the problem on Reddit. One person asked: “Has anyone else bought Clover or any other butter/butter alternatives this past week and noticed the taste is completely off?” Another said there was a “big empty space” at their local store where the spread is normally stocked, and thought their bread had “gone mouldy” when they used the product.
A third wrote that a tub bought within the last few weeks, with at least a month before its expiry, “does not taste right, pretty much exactly as you described”.
Batches identified
Bestway Wholesale published a withdrawal notice on 12 October 2026 naming two affected products:
| Product | Best-before date | Lot code |
|---|---|---|
| Clover Spread 500g | 11 December 2026 | KB6268 |
| Clover Spread 500g | 12 December 2026 | KB6269 |
These are the batches in Bestway’s notice and not necessarily every affected batch in the UK. The notice gives no lot numbers for Clover Light, although the manufacturer has confirmed that some Clover Light products are affected.
Bestway describes the problem as a quality issue, saying the spread may have an unpleasant taste and smell and does not present a health risk. It gives a consumer care number, 0800 328 5629, for people who have experienced flavour problems. The wholesaler expects the product back on shelves soon but has not given a date.
Supermarkets and replacements
In a Reddit discussion on 12 October, people identifying themselves as employees of Sainsbury’s, Asda, Tesco and Morrisons said Clover stock had been taken off sale, with one saying affected stock was destroyed. These are unverified comments, not statements from the retailers, so the extent of the withdrawal at each chain is unclear.
One customer posted on 13 October that they had contacted Clover after buying two tubs with best-before dates of 8 and 9 December 2026. They said they called the company’s customer care line on 0800 783 7293, and that the company acknowledged a batch-related taste problem and arranged to send replacement vouchers. That is one consumer’s account and does not show that all customers will automatically receive vouchers.
Withdrawal, not a recall
The Food Standards Agency distinguishes between a product withdrawal, where stock is removed from the supply chain or from retailers, often because of quality concerns, and a recall, where consumers are formally asked to return or stop using a product, which is commonly used when there is a food safety issue. Clover has described the problem as one of quality. No corresponding FSA food safety recall notice for this case was found.
The manufacturer has not publicly said what caused the flavour problem, how many tubs are affected, which other batches are involved or when supplies will return to normal.
Business background
Clover’s owner, the Canadian company Saputo, announced on 14 August 2026 that it had agreed to sell its UK dairy division to the French group Lactalis. The deal values the UK business at about £988m and includes Clover, Cathedral City, Country Life and Davidstow. Completion is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approval. There is no evidence linking the sale to the flavour problem.
