Cholesterol has long been seen as a key culprit in cardiovascular disease. While it’s true that cholesterol does play a role, not all cholesterol is bad for us.

There are two main types of cholesterol.

The first type is low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol. This is often referred to as the “bad” cholesterol because it causes fat to collect in the arteries as plaques. This makes it harder for blood to pump throughout the body, leading to greater risk of a heart attack or stroke.

The second type is high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — often referred to as “good” cholesterol.

HDL cholesterol has two key roles in the body. It removes excess bad cholesterol from the tissues and arteries and returns it to the liver so it can be removed from the body. HDL cholesterol also protects the artery walls so there’s less risk of a blockage forming.

Boosting HDL

The ratio of LDL to HDL in a person’s body is related to their cardiovascular disease risk. If you have a higher ratio of HDL to LDL, your cardiovascular disease risk will be lower. But if you have a lower ratio of HDL to LDL, you’ll have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Fortunately, it’s possible to shift this ratio and increase HDL cholesterol levels. This can be achieved by exercising, quitting smoking and managing your weight, for example.

Certain foods can also improve HDL ratios.

The main way that diet helps boost HDL ratios is by reducing inflammation. Inflammation is a key problem in cardiovascular disease.

Inflammation makes it possible for blood platelets to stick together in our arteries at a much higher rate. This makes it difficult for the HDL cholesterol to do its job, which increases risk of blood clots forming and raises likelihood of heart disease.

By eating anti-inflammatory foods, it makes it easier for HDL cholesterol to do its job of sweeping away excess LDL cholesterol. Here are four examples you can include in your diet:

1. Fruits and vegetables

Research shows that people who have diets high in fruits and vegetables have higher HDL cholesterol levels and a better total cholesterol ratio. They also have lower blood pressure and healthier blood sugar levels, all of which can be supportive to heart health.

Fruits and vegetables exert their positive effects by trapping free radicals.

Free radicals are highly reactive, unstable molecules that can cause damage to cells and trigger inflammation in the body. By preventing inflammation, this makes it possible for HDL cholesterol to continue doing its job of removing bad cholesterol and protecting the arteries.

2. Oily fish and olive oil

Oily fish (such as salmon, sardines and tuna) and olive oil are rich in a type of fat called “polar lipids”.

These lipids are able to reach the bloodstream more quickly compared to other types of fat, allowing them to reduce inflammation and prevent the aggregation of platelets more effectively.

Cell and animal studies have shown that a diet rich in the polar lipids from oily fish is effective in preventing blood clots from forming. This effect can help cholesterol ratios stay balanced, meaning cardiovascular disease risk is lower.

3. Fermented dairy

Fermented dairy products, such as yoghurt, kefir and cheese, can all have a positive effect on HDL levels.

During fermentation, the lipids are broken down into smaller compounds that have a greater anti-inflammatory effect than milk. They can also be metabolised faster by the body.

Fermented dairy products are also rich in polar lipids, which means that they can considerably reduce cardiovascular risk.

Research found that for every 20g of fermented dairy products people consumed each day, there was a modest reduction in cardiovascular disease risk.

4. Red wine

Finally, red wine is completely misunderstood. According to the latest research, moderate consumption of red wine (the equivalent of one to two small glasses per day) is linked with better HDL ratios.

Wine reduces inflammation when consumed in small quantities because it contains polar lipids. However, if wine intake is high, the negative, pro-inflammatory effect of alcohol outstrips the positive effect of the lipids.

This is why it’s important only to drink small amounts and in moderation – otherwise, alcohol can have many negative effects on the body. Indeed, the World Health Organization has said there is no safe level of alcohol consumption as the negatives, such as increased cancer risk even from light drinking, outweigh any positives.

Non-alcoholic wines also contain polar lipids. Research suggests that polar lipid extracts from non-alcoholic beverages have comparable benefits on preventing the formation of blood clots as their alcoholic counterparts.

Inflammation is a key factor in heart disease. By eating foods that reduce inflammation in the body, it’s possible to look after your heart health and lower cardiovascular disease by improving the ratio of HDL to LDL in the body.

Aunt Bessie’s came in second place

A budget supermarket’s own-brand frozen Yorkshire puddings have been crowned the nation’s finest, beating the longstanding favourite Aunt Bessie’s. Yorkshire puddings are an essential component of any proper roast dinner, though making them from scratch can be messy and laborious.

As a result, countless households nationwide opt for frozen Yorkshire puddings, with Aunt Bessie’s traditionally being a go-to choice. However, a rigorous taste test conducted by Which?, the UK’s leading consumer champion, saw a supermarket’s own-brand snatch the crown.

The comprehensive trial involved 74 participants, who were blind-tasting and scoring seven premium supermarket own-brand Yorkshire puddings from the freezer aisle alongside Aunt Bessie’s offerings.

While Aunt Bessie’s impressed the panel, they fell short of claiming the number one position, with the victor proving both more affordable and more delicious.

Bear in mind that Yorkshire pudding dimensions vary, so it’s worth checking before purchasing. Most are medium-sized, weighing around 48g each, though Aunt Bessie’s are slightly larger at 55g, while Tesco’s are smaller at 33g.

Aldi Specially Selected Large Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings triumphed with an impressive score of 73%. At £1.99 for 288g, they were also joint-cheapest, securing a Great Value badge from Which?.

Roughly two-thirds of testers praised the Yorkshire puddings for their crispy exterior and airy centres, while remaining soft with the perfect level of moisture. Just shy of three-quarters of participants deemed the golden colour absolutely spot-on. These own-brand Yorkshire puddings earned the prestigious Best Buy status from Which?.

Aunt Bessie’s Spectacular Yorkshire Puddings secured second spot, retailing at £2 for 220g and achieving a score of 72%.

These family favourites proved popular with taste testers, with two-thirds praising both their visual appeal and satisfying crunch. Testers also commended their fluffy interior and noted they had just the right amount of moisture.

What sets Aunt Bessie’s apart from other Yorkshire puddings is their inclusion of herbs and spices, featuring rosemary, cumin, sage and horseradish. While this enhances the taste, a third of testers felt the flavouring was somewhat overpowering.

Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire puddings are stocked at various supermarkets and stand out as one of the few vegetarian-friendly options, as they’re made without beef dripping.

Tesco Finest 6 Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings shared second place alongside Aunt Bessie’s, also notching up 72%. Testers were impressed by the texture, with over half expressing satisfaction with the taste. The consistency received approval from most testers, though 41% found it excessively soft.

Despite their runner-up position, they proved to be the smallest and priciest puddings in the trial.

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Yorkshire Puddings claimed third place with a score of 71%. At £2.60 for 252g, they offer better value than Tesco but cost more than both Aunt Bessie’s and Aldi.

Two-thirds of testers approved of the puddings’ golden colour, with even more praising their crispy exterior.

Half the testers were pleased with the flavour, though the majority felt they lacked firmness.

How did other supermarket Yorkshire puddings stack up?

• Waitrose No. 1 6 Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings – 69% £3 for 252g (£1.19 per 100g)
• Iceland Luxury 4 Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings – 68% £2 for 192g (£1.04 per 100g)
• Lidl Deluxe Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings – 67% £1.99 for 288g (69p per 100g)
• Morrisons The Best 6 Yorkshire Puddings with Beef Dripping – 65% £1.99 for 240g (83p per 100g)

Here, she gives her insight into Ant John’s, her kids and her relationship with Clive, while sharing some brilliant anecdotes from the series.

Were there any standout moments or challenges during filming this season?

Oh, there’s always a challenge. For a start, the weather is always the big challenge, but I mean, if you just literally think of the number of variables we’ve got going on there literally isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. So, I also feel that as time is going on and the children are growing up and becoming more independent, there’s less likelihood of me actually knowing where everybody is! So, getting them rounded up to lend a hand is always a big deal!

Has the farm or Anty John’s changed a lot since the last series?

It has moved on, but it’s been a slow project because there have been so many jobs that have morphed into another job. The plaster has been a big bugbear because it took so long for that to dry out. So, it’s been a bit of a waiting game. Because of course, if you rush and go in all guns blazing and put the timber work in too early, then inevitably your hard work and money will all be wasted because it will all swell, and basically that would be a disaster. So yes, I’ve had to be patient!

In this series, we see the children growing up and maturing. What do you think they love most about farming, and what do they enjoy about filming?

Every day is different here, so every day brings its fair share of sort of wins and losses. There actually is no such thing as a typical day here! With regards to the children, some days they will be in their absolute element on the farm, out and about doing what needs doing. Today, I’ve seen one of them go past with a snowboard, which probably should be slightly worrying as there’s no snow, but there you go. There’s always plenty to do. And it gives me great joy to see them so busy with whatever project we have going on. So, you know, when it comes to filming, I think, yes, they do enjoy filming, but I’ll be honest with you, quite often, they don’t notice that they’re being filmed and that’s the joy of it because I’m afraid that the film crew have become part of the furniture. I guess we are all so entrenched in what we’re doing that they don’t take any notice of the film crew. And that’s why I think the show is successful because it isn’t acted out, it isn’t in any way false or scripted. We just go with whatever is happening and that’s exactly how the children operate.

How do you balance farm work, family life and filming commitments?

I just take every day as it comes! Filming, pretty much, is all about farming and family life. So, in a way, filming is the least of my problems, because the other two have to happen and will happen. So, the filming element doesn’t come into it really. All I have to do is put a brush through my hair and try and make myself look a bit more presentable than usual. Apart from that, the crew, like me, have to go along with whatever the day brings, which we never know. And you always get your best footage when things go slightly awry, but that’s what makes the programme relatable because that is everybody!

Can you share a memorable or funny behind-the-scenes story?

I do seem to remember one of the crew managed to crash his drone into a roof and we had to get the children with a fishing rod to get it off the roof. That was definitely a highlight for the children, probably a low point for the drone operator. It is memorable of course trying to sort out condensation on cameras, going from hot to cold on repeat. And of course, the other week when basically I had the director in the off-roader and I managed to somehow break down, not mentally or physically, I mean literally break-down in the off-roader further down on the farm and we had to walk back, and he was carrying all his kit. But there you go. Yeah, we had to do the walk of shame and come home. So yeah, it’s had its moments.

You have a lovely turn of phrase in episode 1, where you say, ‘All roads lead to Ravenseat’, it seems like you really enjoy the history of the farm and the connection people have with the farm and the land through history up to the current day. What do you hope viewers take from this?

Well, if anything I would like to think that what viewers take from this is that you need to have your eyes open to what there is around you, you know, you can come to a place like here and just see it as sort of (particularly at this time of year), as quite desolate and a quiet place for thought and reflection. Then you get here and you find out that actually it is a place that is full of life. It has so much going on and it always has. That’s the interesting element, that history repeats itself. It also rather miserably makes you realise that your time is limited, so you must get on and do your thing because as time goes on, you’ll soon be forgotten about and become just another person who was here. I take notice and on the bad days when the weather has turned and things are going really wrong – it gives me something to sort of fall back on and think to myself, you know, don’t feel too sorry for yourself because you know you will have your good days and they will come too. You know, after a hard winter, spring will always come as sure as eggs are eggs.

What message would you like to give to viewers who have followed you and your family from the beginning?

I’d like to say thank you to all the people who followed us because I’m very aware that, really speaking, we aren’t anything special, we’re just people who are getting on with our daily lives and doing what we have to do. In a way they have been absolutely intrinsic to keeping us going.

We’re in the depths of winter, which is your favourite season on the farm?

I don’t actually mind it now when it’s snowy and icy. It can feel quite nice if you’re prepared for it. You feel like you can hunker down, especially with the children still at home. It’s a nice feeling. You feel ever so slightly more isolated. And that can be either a good or a bad thing, but I kind of like it. I like being out amongst the animals and making them cosy and comfortable. Yeah, it’s like a bit of a nesting sort of a thing. Lambing time’s hard work and very, very tiring, so I’m not going to say that’s my favourite time. So, I’m going to be very specific and say the month of June. The month of June, because basically you’ve finished lambing, it’s too soon to hay time. So, there’s this little hiatus, this little sort of downing tools and you get a little bit of time to enjoy the farm and the land coming back to life. That’s the best. The flowers, the insects, the birds, everything is wonderful. All those winter woes are just put behind you.

Do the children always get on or do they bicker? They always seem to be having great fun on the show.

Well, bearing in mind, when it comes to asking about the children, I have just heard Annas string a lot of swear words into one sentence towards Sidney when he knocked a drink over after launching himself onto the sofa. I think the answer to that one is quite clear. No! Of course they don’t always get on. It doesn’t usually sort of end in fisticuffs or anything, but this morning I think they were hitting each other with icicles. So, but I just kind of let it play out. I think, the bottom line is, they’re all on each other’s sides, but the dynamics are always changing. The three little ones seem to hang out together, but, you know, it’s not always like the Waltons or anything like that. It can be pretty dysfunctional. It’s just like me and Clive, isn’t it? You know, one minute we’ll be agreeing on something, next minute, you’ll be saying something through gritted teeth, and I’ll be giving him the old evil eye. It’s, it is just how it is.

In regard to the children I think because they have got space around them and a zillion things to do it means that they can take off. You know, if you were all trapped under one roof and in confined quarters, then it would be very, very different. But as it is, because they are different characters, and that has developed too, they all have the different interests too. Annas is particularly good with the hounds, and Clemmie, of course, she spent all yesterday afternoon out with the horses. Nancy, she likes her dancing, and it’s good, because it means that, yes, they do all stick together, but they can also go off and be their own individual selves. They are very very unique characters each and every one of them and that in a way is what I enjoy about this time now with regards to the children. So far this is the best period I’ve enjoyed since them being little babies. You just get to see their independence and their characters and what they absorb and what they take in and that never fails to surprise me.

This stage is the best part because the children are becoming more independent and you’re getting really to see their characters shining through and I don’t know, you feel rejuvenated. It does make you feel more alive when you’ve got these youngsters bobbing about doing their thing and you think to yourself it’s all positive, it all good.

Your beloved Chalky passed away – what’s your favourite memory of her?

Sadly, we lost Chalky and that was awful. I mean, not unexpected, because obviously she was a good age. And I mean it happens. I mean if there’s one thing you preach when you live on a farm, it’s that you see the cycles of life. You know, you get to see it, but it still doesn’t make it any easier, because you know, particularly for the little ones, she’d been a constant, she’d always been there. But we were blessed in respect to the fact that she wasn’t particularly poorly, she wasn’t in any pain and she just faded away. But yes, it was hard and I think, to be honest with you, Sprout has found it incredibly difficult because Sprout is still looking for her.

Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids concludes its third series on More4 on February 16.

Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of the FA Cup fourth round as we focus on Manchester City vs Salford City.

That match is one of five games kicking off at 3pm. The others are Burnley vs Mansfield Town, Norwich City vs West Brom, Port Vale vs Bristol City and Southampton vs Leicester City.

At the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola, the City manager, said his players are “exhausted physically and mentally” having not had more than four days of rest between games since the turn of the year.

”Our priority is beating Salford and going to the next round. In this competition, over the last years, [we have been] reaching finals, finals and finals,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference.

”Unfortunately we could not win the last two finals but being there is always a success. I always think about that.

”Hopefully, before ⁠this long week that we need, because we are so, so exhausted physically and mentally from this incredible amount of games in many months — we can have a little break after the game.”

Last season, City thrashed Salford ⁠8-0 in the third round but Guardiola does not think that result will have a bearing on what happens today.

”Of course, they are [in] League Two and of course we play at home, but I try to knuckle into the mind of the players that nothing is for granted and that everything is difficult,” ‌he said.

”Of course, it could be easy afterwards but we have to do our job. That’s why in a tight competition in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, we have always been there. We have always behaved really, really good and Saturday ‌cannot be an exception.”

Elsewhere, James Ward-Prowse is in line to make his first Burnley start in Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at home to Mansfield.

A January signing on loan from West Ham, the former England midfielder made his debut as a substitute on Wednesday night as the Clarets ended their 16-match league winless run with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory at Crystal Palace.

”I was really pleased that he came on the other night and in the time he had, and with the dynamics of the game as they were, you saw his experience,” Scott Parker said.

”It’s another opportunity for him to get minutes. He’s not played a lot of football, albeit here a little bit with the under-21s, so it’s another opportunity for us to see his quality and what he can bring for us.”

Stand by for all the line-ups and team news from the upcoming matches.

Here is your latest court round-up for cases heard from February 9 – 13

9 cases heard before Northern Ireland courts this week

1. On Monday, February 9, Co Tyrone man, Padraig Anthony James Brolly, 26, was banned from entering Belfast as he was granted bail after seven months in custody. He is one of four people charged with a burglary offence following an incident in South Belfast in June 2025.
2. Kevin Duggan, 31, from Co Derry appeared in court on Monday charged with a number of offences which included attempting to incite sexual activity with children. He is alleged to have held the two teenage victims in his home while showing them a machete and spear-type weapon, offered them drugs, and suggested taking part in different sexual acts which they refused.
3. Aaron McCready, 28, of Donegal Road, Belfast, appeared in court on Tuesday, February 10, where he was accused of putting his ex-partner into a bath and dangling an electric toaster over the water after declaring he would kill her. he is also alleged to have tried to wrap a light switch cord around the woman’s neck as part of a sustained attack in her home.
4. Stephen Patrick David Crumley, 34, who is currently serving a prison sentence, received a further 9 months in custody after pleading guilty to ten charges of burglary and five counts of fraud by false representation. His offending occurred between October 27, 2024 and February 7, 2025 with the crime spree consisting of breaking into a total of nine businesses in the centre of Belfast – one of which he targeted twice.
5. Ezra Garfield was jailed for 19 months on Thursday after he set up a fake Instagram account in the name of a woman and claimed she was using it to harass him. He told police that a woman had had called him 17 times and had sent him a threatening Instagram message, however it was later discovered that he had created the account himself.
6. A court heard that a man who was found with dangerous chemicals in his house and an improvised grenade had no connection to terrorism and was not ideologicaly driven and suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. Radoslaw Kuc appeared in court on Thursday following an incident on January 29, 2025 in South Belfast, as he requested bail.
7. Sean Pearson, 32, from Culmore Park in Omagh, Co Tyrone, had an application to vary his bail denied when he asked the courts if his curfew could be extended to watch Derry City. Pearson is awaiting trial on charges dating back to May 2023 following an incident where a group of masked men claiming to be from the IRA held a motorist at gunpoint who was forced to drive an item to Omagh PSNI station.
8. Adam Crawford, 26, of Lenadoon Avenue was jailed for 10 months on Friday after he broke a man’s eye socket during a drug-fuelled assault in the city centre. Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard the victim was attacked in broad daylight after he left the Ulster Reform Club with friends on May 25, 2024.
9. A former teacher appeared in court on Friday accused of sexually abusing children from two separate primary schools in Belfast. The 76-year-old man is also facing prosecution for allegedly molesting his own daughter as part of a campaign of historic offences. He cannot be named and the schools involved are not being identified to ensure the protection of any complainants.The pensioner has been charged with gross indecency towards unknown children from the two primary schools. The alleged offences were committed sometime over a 30-year period from 1975 to 2005.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Steve Bannon discussed plans to “take down” Pope Francis with Jeffrey Epstein, according to new files shared by the Department of Justice.

“Will take down [Pope] Francis,” Bannon appears to have written in a message to the pedophile financier in June 2019. “The Clintons, Xi, Francis, EU – come on brother.”

Bannon, a former presidential advisor to Donald Trump and who reportedly identifies as a Roman Catholic, was highly critical of Francis, viewing his progressive global agenda as contrary to his own “sovereigntist” stance. In a 2018 interview with The Spectator Bannon described the Pope as “beneath contempt,” and accused him of “siding with globalist elites.”

The exchange with Epstein appears to show Bannon trying to further his plans, asking whether the financier has read In the Closet of the Vatican, a 2019 book by French journalist Frédéric Martel that included the bombshell claim that 80 percent of the clergy working in the Vatican are gay.

open image in gallery

Bannon had previously appeared to have expressed interest in turning the book into a film, telling Epstein “you are now exec producer of ‘ITCOTV’.” It is unclear how serious that offer was.

The financier replies saying “Chomsky asking when film,” in apparent reference to intellectual Noam Chomsky with whom Epstein was known to be close with.

Elsewhere in the files, documents show that Epstein emailed himself on April 1 2019 a message reading “in the closet of the Vatican,” and also sent Bannon an article titled “Pope Francis or Steve Bannon? Catholics must choose.”

open image in gallery

“Easy choice,” Bannon replied.

The Independent has contacted representatives of Steve Bannon for comment.

Bannon is not the only MAGA acolyte to have run-ins with Pope Francis. Though he paid tribute to the pontiff following his death last year, describing him as “a good man, [who] worked hard and loved the world,” Donald Trump also had historic disputes with Francis.

Ahead of Trump’s first presidency in 2016, Francis criticized the incoming president over this vow to build a wall between Mexico and the U.S., saying “a person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.”

In January last year, one day before Trump’s second inauguration, Francis spoke out about the Republican president’s plans to carry out mass deportations.

open image in gallery

“If it is true, it will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the bill for the imbalance. It won’t do. This is not the way to solve things,” the Pope wrote.

The Pope also clashed with Vice President JD Vance, who is a Roman Catholic. In an interview Vance had put forward an idea known as ordo amoris, saying: “There’s this old school – and I think it’s a very Christian concept, by the way – that you love your family and then you love your neighbour and then you love your community and then you love your fellow citizens and your own country, and then after that you can focus and prioritise the rest of the world.”

Francis contradicted the idea that there should be a hierarchy of love, writing: “Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups.”

Vance later met the pontiff during his trip to Rome, meeting with him on Easter Sunday last year and sharing a homily with him. Pope Francis died a day later on April 21 2025.

Farrell preferred to accentuate the positives, noting the blooding of Edwin Edogbo and the return of Baloucoune. “The experience that some of these lads are getting is absolutely huge,” he said. “The lads that have been there and done that, they’ve been through this type of pressure and come out the other side and they’ve grown because of it. These lads that managed to do that today, to stand up tall, and that will certainly stand them in good stead. I’m delighted with the win against a very good Italian side.”

There are plenty of questions piling up for Farrell. And with England away at Twickenham next weekend, they are only going to get louder.

Match details

Scoring sequence: 5-0 Osborne try, 5-3 Garbisi pen, 5-8 Nicotera try, 5-10 Garbisi con, 10-10 Conan try, 15-10 Balacoune try, 17-10 Crowley con, 20-10 Crowley pen, 20-13 Garbisi pen.

Ireland: J Osborne; R Baloucoune, G Ringrose, S McCloskey, J Lowe; S Prendergast (J Crowley 56), C Casey (J Gibson-Park 52); J Loughman (T O’Toole 67), D Sheehan (R Kelleher 52), T Clarkson (T Furlong 41), J McCarthy (T Beirne 52), J Ryan (E Edogbo 70), C Izuchukwu (N Timoney 59), C Doris, J Conan.
Sin-bin: Casey.

Italy: L Pani; L Lynagh, L Marin (P Odogwu 67), T Menoncello, M Ioane; P Garbisi, A Fusco (A Garbisi 63); D Fischetti (M Spagnolo 59), G Nicotera (T Di Bartolomeo 59), S Ferrari (M Hasa 59), N Cannone (R Favretto 67), A Zambonin (F Ruzza 61), M Lamaro, M Zuliani, L Cannone (D Odiase 67).
Sin-bin: Lynagh.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU).

The major UK supermarkets have issued “do not eat” warnings for a range of reasons.

Several recalls are currently active, affecting products sold nationwide.

Customers who have purchased any of the affected items are advised to take note of the possible health risks and follow the official guidance.

Co-Op recall

Co-op has recalled its Irresistible Triple Cook Thick Cut Chunky Chips because they may contain an undeclared allergen.

Due to a packaging error, the packs have been incorrectly packed with Dauphinoise potatoes, and therefore contain undeclared milk.

The affected chips have a use by date of February 14.

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: “Co-op is recalling the above product from customers and has contacted the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall.

“The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 

“If you have bought the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, do not eat it. Instead return it to your local store for a full refund or if purchased online, you can receive a refund by calling 0330 041 7737.

“For further information, contact Co-op customer service on 0800 0686 727 or email via https://www.coop.co.uk/contact-us/product-issues-or-returns.”

Farmfoods Recall

Farmfoods is recalling a Ritz Cheese Sandwich sold at its stores because it contains milk, soya and wheat not mentioned on the label.

This recall only affects products originating from Indonesia, and does not affect products originating from other countries.

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: “Farmfoods is recalling the above product. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product, and on their website.

“These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

“If you have bought this product, and have an allergy or intolerance to any of the allergens listed, do not eat it. Instead, return it to the store from which you bought the product for a full refund.

“For further information contact the Farmfoods Customer Services on 0121 700 7160.”

Lidl recall

null (Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)

Lidl has apologised to shoppers after it was forced to recall a snack product.

The supermarket is recalling Snaktastic Multigrain Bites Sour Cream & Black Pepper because it may contain pieces of foil.

The affected bags have a best before date of April 4 and a batch code of 207 345.

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned: “Lidl GB is recalling the above product. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product.

“These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

“If you have bought any of the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to a Lidl GB store for a full refund.

“For further information contact Lidl GB’s Customer Care team on 0203 966 5566 or at customer.care@lidl.co.uk .”

A Lidl spokesman added: “No other Snaktastic products in Lidl GB stores are affected by this recall.

“If you have bought the above product we advise you not to eat it.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your cooperation.”

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Aptamil recall

Parents have been warned not to use a batch of baby formula because it may contain a toxin that could make their child ill.

Danone has recalled its Aptamil First Infant Formula because of the possible presence of cereulide toxin.

The toxin can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps, and is unsafe to consume.

It is produced by some strains of Bacillus cereus and is highly heat stable meaning it is unlikely to be destroyed by cooking, or when making the infant milk.

Friday 23 January: @Danone recalls Aptamil First Infant Formula because cereulide (toxin) has been found in this batch #FoodAlert https://t.co/1z8zL5bd4t pic.twitter.com/rqjkOYQFcW

— Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) January 23, 2026

The impacted batch of formula has a best before date of October 31, 2026.

A Danone spokesman said: “It was sold in May – July 2025. The expiry date, batch and time can be found on the lower back of the pack.

“No other batches are affected by this notice.

“Customers who still have products from this batch can return it to the shop where they bought it for a full refund with or without a receipt.”

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) added: “Danone is recalling the above product. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product.

“These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

“If you have bought any of the above product do not feed it to babies. Instead, return it to the shop where they bought it for a full refund with or without a receipt.

“For further information, contact the Aptamil Careline team on 0800 996 1000 or at www.aptaclub.co.uk .

“Even if you have not identified ill-health in your baby as a result of consumption of this product, it is essential to stop using it.

“If the infant formula was prescribed by a health professional for your infant, consult a pharmacist or other medical professional before changing formula.

“If you have fed this product to a baby and have any concerns about potential health impact, you should seek advice from healthcare professionals, using the most appropriate route depending on where you live, (i.e., visit your GP, call NHS 111).”

TK Maxx recall

Drinks products sold at TK Maxx and Homesense have been recalled as they pose a “potential health risk” to some shoppers.

TJX Europe is recalling its Ten Acre Gifts/Coffee Syrup collection because of the safety concerns.

The items were sold in TK Maxx and Homesense between October 2025 and January 2026 and have a best before date of September 9, 2026.

The collection may contain nuts, peanuts, soya and wheat (gluten) which are not mentioned on the label.

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: “This product may contain nuts, peanuts, soya and wheat (gluten) making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to nuts, peanuts, soya, and/or an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten, or with coeliac disease.

“TJX Europe is recalling the above product from customers and has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall.

“These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 

“If you have bought the above product and have an allergy and/or intolerance to any of the allergens listed above, do not eat it.

“Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund. Please contact customerservice@tjxeurope.com or 01923473561, for further information.”

What is a product recall?

If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product).

The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food.

In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued.

This provides local authorities with details of specific actions to be taken on behalf of consumers.

It comes as the character, along with Moth and Toastie, performed in front of the studio audience and judges Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan and Maya Jama, for one last time this evening.

Although Conkers made it to the final three, they just missed out on being crowned the 2026 champion in second place.

They almost followed in the footsteps of last year’s winner Samantha Barks as Pufferfish, who performed on the ITV show once again tonight.

Over the latest series of The Masked Singer, viewers have been sharing plenty of guesses when it comes to who Conkers could be, including This Morning’s Ben Shephard, Olympian Tom Daley and Take That singer Mark Owen.

During the final, Conkers sang Keep on Movin by 5ive which Mo said: “Conkers, I really enjoyed that, that was so good.”

Just some of the judges’ guesses tonight included Tom Daley, Joe Sugg, Will Best and Charlie Cooper.

They then performed a duet with Snail (Andrea Corr) to I’ve Had The Time of My Life.

Who was Conkers on The Masked Singer 2026?

But in the end, it was time of the character remove their mask and “take it off”.

It was revealed that Conkers was none other than Ben Shephard, who was actually on the panel of The Masked Singer earlier in the series.

He joked: “I’ve always dreamt about being a conker.”

Ben added: “It’s an extraordinary experience, having turned 50, I thought I’ve got to do a few more scary things.”

Conkers was unmasked just moments before Toastie, who was revealed as Mica Paris.

Recommended reading:

Who was Can of Worms on The Masked Singer UK 2026?

Can of Worms was also unmasked as JLS star Marvin Humes last week, after he made it all the way to the semi-final.

The 40-year-old said his son asked him to send his teacher the video of his unmasking on The Masked Singer, adding that he was “so overwhelmed” by the reveal.

Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain earlier this week, the radio host has said his youngest child, five-year-old Blake, was “so emotional” after watching the reveal.

He explained: “I had to send his teacher, last night, the video of me being on The Masked Singer.

“He must have told all his friends today that daddy is Can Of Worms.”

GENEVA (AP) — Iran and the United States will hold a second round of talks over Tehran’s nuclear program next week, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

Oman, which welcomed the first round of indirect talks on Feb. 6, will host the talks in Geneva, the Swiss ministry said, without specifying which days.

After the first discussions, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tehran that failure to reach an agreement with his administration would be “very traumatic.”

Similar talks last year broke down in June as Israel launched what became a 12-day war on Iran that included the U.S. bombing Iranian nuclear sites.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force to compel Iran to agree to constrain its nuclear program. Iran has said it would respond with an attack of its own. Trump also has threatened Iran over its deadly crackdown on recent nationwide protests there.

Gulf Arab nations have warned any attack could spiral into another regional conflict.

Trump said Friday the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, was being sent from the Caribbean to the Mideast to join other military assets the U.S. has built up in the region. He also said a change in power in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen.”

The indirect talks on Feb. 6 were between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. The top military commander in the Middle East was also present for the first time.

The Trump administration has maintained that Iran can have no uranium enrichment under any deal. Tehran says it won’t agree to that.

Iran has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. However, its officials increasingly threaten to pursue a nuclear weapon. Before the June war, Iran had been enriching uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said his nation is “ready for any kind of verification.” However, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, has been unable for months to inspect and verify Iran’s nuclear stockpile.

Trump has suggested in recent weeks that his top priority is for Iran to scale back its nuclear program. Iran has said it wants talks to focus solely on the nuclear program.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who met with Trump in Washington this week, has pressed for any deal to include steps to neutralize Iran’s ballistic missile program and end its funding for proxy groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.