The listeria outbreak linked to supermarket ready meals from the likes of Tesco and Aldi has sparked fears as one person has died after eating a contaminated dish
A person has tragically died after eating a ready meal sold at the likes of Tesco and Aldi, sparking fears after a potentially deadly listeriosis oubreak saw shops issue urgent recalls on dozens of dishes.
An adult has died days after falling ill from eating a contaminated ready meal in Ireland. The death has been one of several cases of listeriosis – a potentially deadly infection caused by the listeria bacteria.
Supermarket bosses have rushed to remove at risk dishes on supermarket shelves amid growing concerns for public safety. A range of ready meals by the brand Ballymaguire Foods, who sell products at both Aldi and Tesco in Ireland, have been affected.
It comes after three people died earlier this year following a listeria bacteria linked to chocolate desserts supplied at NHS hospitals.
The bacteria can cause infections, such as listeriosis, which can be particularly serious for those most vulnerable, including babies, children and people with weakened immune systems.
The NHS website explains more about listeriosis, typically caused by eating food contaminated with listeria bacteria or by contact with someone else who has it, such as by eating food they’ve handled when they’ve not washed their hands.
Symptoms of listeriosis
The NHS says listeriosis can cause the following symptoms, which for most people last for a few days. If they persist for longer, you’re advised to ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111.
- a high temperature
- aches and pains
- chills
- feeling or being sick
- diarrhoea
If you’re pregnant, you may also have a stomach ache or notice your baby moving less than usual. Babies with listeriosis may also be irritable and feed less than usual.
Older people are also at higher risk of getting seriously ill from listeriosis, and this risk increases with age. Those who died in the outbreak were aged between 68 and 89. The five infections include two in Yorkshire and Humber and one each in the North West, West Midlands and Wales.
How to avoid listeriosis
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recalled all chilled desserts including ice cream, ice cream cream rolls, mousses and yoghurts supplied by the company in question to the NHS and care homes as a precaution. The FSA said the bacterium was detected in two different mousse flavours last month.
And to avoid catching the infection – and similar ones – in other cases, the NHS advises us to do the following simple things. They include standard hygiene measures we do normally anyway, such as the regular washing of our hands.
- Keep chilled, ready-to-eat foods cold – try to make sure your fridge is working properly and is set to 5C or below
- Eat ready-to-eat foods within 4 hours of taking them out of the fridge
- Eat, cook or freeze foods by their use-by date
- Follow storage instructions on food labels and use opened food within two days (unless the packaging says otherwise)
- Keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate
- Follow any cooking instructions on packaging, and cook or reheat (including frozen vegetables) until they’re steaming hot right through
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
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