ASDA has pulled a popular type of cheese from its shelves and issued a ‘do not eat’ warning after some packs were found to contain deadly listeria bacteria.
People who eat food contaminated with the bacteria can get a nasty illness called listeriosis, which can result in “serious complications such as meningitis” in rare cases.
AsdaAsda recalled its ASDA Extra Special Taleggio because Listeria monocytogenes was found in some of the products[/caption]
Asda took the “precautionary action” of recalling its ASDA Extra Special Taleggio because Listeria monocytogenes was found in some of the products, according to an alert by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
It comes shortly after Morrisons recalled its own brand of taleggio cheese due to listeria fears.
According to the FSA notice, 200g packs of the ASDA Extra Special Taleggio with a use-by date of April 14 should not be eaten.
Instead, it advised customers to return the cheese for a full refund, no receipt needed.
Listeriosis is rare a food-borne illness and could be particularly deadly to people with weakened immune systems or those over 65.
Pregnant women and their unborn babies – as well as tots who are less than a month old – are also at risk of severe illness.
If you happen to eat food contaminated with listeria, the bacteria can at first cause symptoms resembling the flu.
They include:
A high temparature
Muscle aches or pains
Chills
Feeling or being sick
Diarrhoea
The illness will usually go away on its own after a few days, helped along by rest and drinking plenty of fluids.
But the FSA warned that “in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis”.
The NHS said: “If you get listeriosis while you’re pregnant, there is a risk it could cause miscarriage or stillbirth.
“In babies and people with a weakened immune system, listeriosis can sometimes lead to serious and life-threatening problems such as sepsis or meningitis.”
How to avoid listeriosis
WHILE you can’t help it if supermarket food you buy is found to contain listeria monocytogenes, there are some things you can do to avoid it at home. These include:
Keeping chilled, ready-to-eat foods cold (in the fridge at 5C or below)
Consume ready-to-eat foods within four 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
You should also avoid certain foods completely if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system. These include:
Ready-to-eat cold-smoked or cured fish products (e.g. smoked salmon or gravlax)
Uncooked soft cheese (including brie and Camembert)
Pâté
Unpasteurised milk or dairy products
Any under-cooked food
Source: NHS
If you think you have listeriosis and you’re at risk of severe illness, the NHS advises you get an urgent appointment with a GP.
Throughout 2021, 160 cases of listeriosis were reported in England and Wales, according to recent data release by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Twenty-two people passed away after suffering from the nasty illness.
Rates were highest among people aged 80 years and over, while a fifth of all infections occurred in pregnant mums – about 20 per cent of these pregnancy related cases resulted in a still birth or miscarriage.
There were three listeriosis outbreaks investigated in England and Wales in 2021, including a national outbreak associated with smoked fish.
Asda is the second major supermarket to recall a batch of listeria-contaminated taleggio, after Morrisons issued a “do not eat” warning for its The Best Taleggio cheese.
The bacteria was also spotted in batches of chorizo sold in Sainsbury’s last year.
In other dairy-related news, five cheeses sold by Mrs Kirkham’s were investigated over the Christmas period after a Brit tragically died of E. coli and at least 30 people were sickened.
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