According to UK health and food watchdogs, the cases are not confined to a specific area of the UK and instead have been reported across the country, suggesting an outbreak of listeria
Three people have died after after eating chocolate desserts infected with deadly listeria bacteria that were supplied to NHS hospitals.
According to UK health and food watchdogs, the new cases of the deadly poisoning bug are not confined to a specific area of the UK, and instead have been reported across the country, suggesting an outbreak of the bacteria. NHS officials believe the source of the outbreak came from Cool Light Deserts’ chocolate mousses and ice creams. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Food Standards Agency (FSA) have launched a joint investigation into five recent cases of Listeria monocytogenes.
Patients were identified from May to December 2024 with two in Yorkshire and Humber and one each in the North West and West Midlands regions of England, plus one in Wales. The median age of cases is 87 and they range from 68 to 89 years old.
The affected patients are also said to have underlying health conditions and were hospitalised at the time of infection. Out of the five cases, three of those have died, including one where Listeria monocytogenes was reported as the cause of death.
The FSA has now confirmed all chilled deserts supplied by the company to NHS trusts and care homes, including cream rolls and yoghurts, have now been recalled as a precaution. All chilled desserts including ice cream, ice cream cream rolls, mousses and yoghurts supplied by the company to the NHS and care homes have now been recalled by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as a precaution.
Hospital staff have also been urged to check ward fridges to ensure products are removed, according to alerts sent to NHS trusts seen by MailOnline. Levels of listeria monocytogenes were below the regulatory threshold of 100 colony forming units per gram (CFU/g).
However, ‘severely immunocompromised patients in hospitals and other health care settings’ are ‘more likely to suffer severe symptoms from listeria infection’, the FSA noted. A representative from Cool Delight Desserts told Food Safety News that the company was in ongoing discussions with the FSA. The company is currently unable to comment while investigations continue.
Listeria causes a type of food poisoning called listeriosis, which can be particularly dangerous for people with a compromised immune system. In serious cases it can cause gastroenteritis, sepsis and even meningitis. Listeriosis is a rare infection which is usually caught from eating food containing the listeria bacteria.
The NHS says that for most people, listeriosis has no symptoms or only causes mild symptoms for a few days, such as
- a high temperature of 38C or above
- aches and pains
- chills
- feeling sick or vomiting
- diarrhoea
However, some people are more at risk of developing severe listeriosis, which can cause serious issues, including meningitis and even death. You can also catch listeriosis from someone else who has it, for example if you eat food they have handled without washing their hands. It can also be caught from close contact with farm animals, particularly sheep and cows that are giving birth.
A total of 177 cases of listeriosis were reported in England and Wales in 2023, according to the latest available data There were 32 deaths recorded, 11 of which had listeriosis recorded as a cause of death on the death certificate. Seven outbreaks in total were investigated including those associated with smoked fish, semi-soft cheese and beef products.
This is a breaking news story. Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, Twitter, Facebook or visit The Mirror homepage.
