Waitrose has recalled jars of its own brand of pesto over fears they may be contaminated with potentially deadly salmonella.
An alert issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the deadly bacteria was detected in Pesto alla Genovese No1 with a best before date of September 26.
The major supermarket chain, known for its middle-class clientele, has warned consumers who bought the fresh basil-based sauce not to eat it.
Waitrose has said customers can return the item, which costs £3.25, to their local branch where they will receive a full refund.
Waitrose has advised all customers to return the item to the store where they will receive a refund.
In a notice to customers, the supermarket said it ‘apologised’ for any inconvenience caused.
Salmonella They are a group of bacteria that infect the intestine from farm animals, and can affect meat, eggs and poultry.
Symptoms of infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and sometimes vomiting and fever.
On average, symptoms take 12 to 72 hours to develop after ingesting an infectious dose of salmonella.
They usually last between four and seven days and most people recover without treatment.
However, some people, especially those with underlying diseases and pregnant women, may become seriously ill and require hospital treatment.
Data released in March revealed that salmonella-related hospitalizations had reached an all-time high.
Admissions for salmonella infections reached 1,468 in England between April 2022 and March 2023.
A decade ago, this figure was 76 percent lower: 834 admissions per year.
The latest warning comes after an outbreak of a toxin called Clostridium botulinum was found in several jars of pesto sold in Paris.
Five people were hospitalized due to botulism, a disease caused by a bacteria that attacks the nervous system and is fatal in 10 percent of cases.
The sauce was sold at local festivals in Indre-et-Loire, the first at the end of March 2024 and the last in September.
