SUPERMARKETS have been forced to clear their shelves of 43 different kinds of frozen vegetables after fears they could be contaminated by a deadly outbreak of listeria.
The European Food Safety Authority says frozen corn and possibly other frozen vegetables are the likely source of an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes which has been affecting Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom since 2015.
As of June 8 2018, 47 cases including nine deaths have been reported.
What is Listeria?
Listeriosis is a rare infection caused by bacteria called listeria.
It usually goes away on its own, but can cause serious problems if you're pregnant or have a weak immune system.
Listeriosis is usually caught from eating food containing listeria bacteria.
According to the NHS, in most people listeriosis has no symptoms or only causes mild symptoms for a few days.
They include:
- a high temperature of 38C or above
- aches and pains
- chills
- feeling sick or vomiting
- diarrhoea
Which products do I need to avoid?
Greenyard Frozen UK Ltd has taken the precautionary step of voluntarily recalling various frozen vegetable products because they might contain Listeria monocytogenes.
The full list of recalled products include:
Pinguin Frozen Sweetcorn
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2020
Pinguin Supersweet Sweetcorn
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2020
Tesco Frozen Broccoli, Carrot and Sweetcorn Steamer
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Tesco Frozen Every Day Value Sweetcorn
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Ross Mixed Vegetables
Pack size - 12x450g
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2021
One Stop Frozen Sweetcorn
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Aldi Four Seasons Frozen Vegetable Steamers
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Aldi Frozen Four Seasons Mixed Vegetables
Pack size All
Batch code All
Best before All codes to Jan 2020
Pinguin Sweetcorn
Pack size - 1x10 kg
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2020
Aldi Four Seasons Supersweet Sweetcorn
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Waitrose Essential Supersweet Sweetcorn
Pack size - E1kg
Batch code - All
Best before - Oct 2019, Nov 2019, Aug 2019
Waitrose Essential Mixed Vegetable
Pack size - E1kg
Batch code - All
Best before - All up to Dec 2019
Tesco Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Waitrose Fine Cut Vegetable Steamer
Pack size - E640g (4x160ge)
Batch code - All
Best before - All up to Jan 2020
Waitrose Love Life Vegetable Medley Steamers
Pack size - E640g (4x160ge)
Batch code - P6163 P7021 P7080
Best before - May 2018, Jul 2018, Sep 2018
Sainsbury's Frozen Special Mixed Vegetables
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Growers Pride Mixed Vegetables
Pack size - 12x450g
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2021
Sainsbury's Frozen Basic Mixed Vegetables
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Sainsbury's Frozen Rice Broccoli and Sweetcorn
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Sainsbury Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Sainsbury's Frozen Carrot Broccoli and Sweetcorn
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Pinguin Supersweet Corn
Pack size - 1x10 kg
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2020
Lidl Frozen Green Grocer Supersweet Corn
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Tesco Growers Harvest Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Lidl Frozen Freshona Vegetable Mix
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to July 2020
Iceland Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Pack size - 900g
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to 22 June 2020
Pinguin Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Pack size - 1x10 kg
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2020
Independent Mix Vegetables
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2019
Ross Mixed Vegetables
Pack size - 10x1kg
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2020
Pinguin Mixed Vegetable
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2020
Pinguin Frozen Cut Beans
Pack size - All
Batch code - NA
Best before - July 2020
Growers Pride Mixed Vegetables
Pack size - 12x750g
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2020
Ross Mixed Country Vegetables
Pack size - 10x1kg
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2020
Growers Pride Supersweet Sweetcorn
Pack size - 12x750g
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2020
Pinguin frozen Golden Rice and Vegetables
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2020
Growers Pride Supersweet Sweetcorn
Pack size - 12x450g
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2021
Ross Sweetcorn
Pack size - 12x450g
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2021
Ross Sweetcorn
Pack size - 10x1kg
Batch code - All
Best before - July 2020
Tesco Frozen Sweetcorn
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Tesco frozen Mixed Vegetables and Peppers
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Tesco Broccoli Frozen Sweetcorn Peas and Spinach Steamer
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Tesco Frozen Growers Harvest Carrot Peas and Sweetcorn Steamer
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
Tesco Frozen Growers Harvest Mixed Vegetables
Pack size - All
Batch code - All
Best before - All codes to Jan 2020
What should I do if I have one of these products in my freezer?
The Food Standards Agency says if you have bought any of the above products do not eat them.
Instead, return the product to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.
The European Food Safety Authority also adds to reduce any risk of infection, consumers should thoroughly cook non ready-to-eat frozen vegetables, even though these products are commonly consumed without cooking (e.g. in salads and smoothies).
This applies especially to consumers at highest risk of contracting listeriosis – such as the elderly, pregnant women, new-borns and adults with weakened immune systems.
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