Food manufacturers have issued a blanket recall of sandwiches, wraps, and salads sold at several big supermarket chains following a frightening outbreak of E. coli. More than 200 cases of the infection have so far been confirmed in the UK; the count is likely to rise.
Laboratory investigation has confirmed that it’s an outbreak from a single source, and indications point to one or more nationally distributed food item(s). This had prompted major food manufacturers, including Greencore Group, Samworth Brothers Manton Wood, and THIS!, to issue precautionary recalls.
“The illness is much worse in young children, the elderly and people who have underlying conditions in their immune systems as we often see with these infectious diseases”, said Dr. Sarah Pitt, a University of Brighton virologist.
By mid-June, the following items had been recalled:
- THIS! – WH Smith THIS! Isn’t Chicken and Bacon Wrap with use-by dates up to and including June 18
- Greencore Group:
Aldi Chicken Fajita Triple Wrap with use-by dates up to and including June 16
Amazon BLT Sandwich with use-by dates up to and including June 16
Asda Smoky Beans and Cheddar Cheese Wrap with use-by dates up to and including June 15
- Samworth Brothers Manton Wood:
Tesco Chicken Salad Sandwich with use-by dates up to and including June 16
Tesco Chicken Salad Sub with use-by dates up to and including June 16
Health officials are now warning consumers to check their fridges and return any of the affected items to the shop for a complete refund. “The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the UKHSA are working together to identify the cause of this outbreak and prevent further cases,” said Darren Whitby, head of incidents at the Food Standards Agency.
E. coli bacteria are residents in the intestines of humans and animals. Although most of the strains are harmless, there are certain types of this bacterium that can cause deadly diseases, for example, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O145. Commonly, the illness causes diarrhea, often bloody, with stomach cramps and fever, and sometimes has vomiting noted. Sometimes, all this process transforms into serious complications, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome, which damages kidneys.
Preventative measures to avoid infection from E. coli include washing fruits, vegetables, and salad leaves meticulously, even when the packaging advertises the contents as already washed. Also, good handwashing with soap and water is very important, specifically after toilet use and before handling foods. If symptoms indicative of E. coli infection occur, then individuals should try to avoid handling food for others and visiting hospitals or care homes. Moreover, UKHSA implies that nobody should return to work, school, or nursery for 48 hours after symptoms have completely resolved.
Dr. Pitt said the symptom for this often occurs weeks after contaminated food has been eaten, so it is hard to trace an outbreak source. “It’s often really complicated to trace the source of the bacteria because those becoming sick usually do not present to hospital until a couple of weeks after eating the contaminated food,” she said.
Parents and anyone with a regard for their health should keep a lookout and see their GP or call NHS 111 if they have concerns, particularly with children whose symptoms persist or worsen. This is especially important for babies under 12 months, for children who have stopped feeding, or for young children who are dehydrated.
These products include numerous leading supermarkets, like Sainsbury’s, Asda, Aldi, Morrisons, Co-op, Boots, Tesco, WH Smith, and even Amazon. Consumers are invited to keep up-to-date via official channels and follow the recalls to enable them to keep their families safe.
There is a full list of products being recalled on the websites of the supermarkets or by contacting their customer service.