A third sandwich maker pulled one of its products from shelves over fears it could be contaminated with E. coli.
The “do not eat” alert appeared today on a packaging made by the vegan company THIS! Sold only at WHSmith.
There are fears that the “This Isn’t Chicken and Bacon” wrapper may contain salad leaves contaminated with feces linked to an ongoing E. coli outbreak.
It comes just days after manufacturers Greencore Group and Samworth Brothers Manton Wood recalled more than 60 of their own sandwiches, wraps and salads sold in 10 major UK supermarkets.
The insect, which can kill, often causes fever, nausea and diarrhea. Their symptoms usually go away naturally within a few days.
The “do not eat” alert appeared today on a packaging made by the vegan company THIS! Sold only at WHSmith. There are fears that the “This Isn’t Chicken and Bacon” wrapper may contain salad leaves contaminated with feces linked to a current E. coli outbreak.
It comes just days after manufacturers Greencore Group and Samworth Brothers Manton Wood recalled more than 40 of their own sandwiches, wraps and salads sold in 10 major UK supermarkets.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the wrapper was being “withdrawn from the market as a precautionary measure”.
The alert affects product date codes up to and including June 18.
Point-of-sale notices, which explain to customers why the product is being recalled, will also be displayed in all stores selling the product, the FSA said.
He added: ‘If you have bought any of the above products, do not eat them.
“Instead, return it to the store where you purchased it for a full refund.”
More than 200 Britons are now known to have been affected by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a rare strain of the virus that causes diarrhoea, in recent weeks.
At least 67 people have been admitted to hospital.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said today that a total of 211 cases were recorded between May 25 and June 11.
Of these, 147 were in England, 27 in Wales and 35 in Scotland.
Only two cases have been recorded in Northern Ireland, although authorities say this individual probably contracted the virus in England.
Victims include children as young as two years old, although the majority are young adults.
The UKHSA has said it expects the number of people falling ill to rise further as it carries out more research using genome sequencing to check which E. coli cases are linked.
Darren Whitby, FSA Incident Manager, said: “Sandwich manufacturers are taking precautionary action to recall a number of sandwiches, wraps, subs and buns in response to the findings of the FSA investigations, Food Standards Scotland (FSS). ) and UKHSA who are working to identify the cause of an ongoing outbreak caused by STEC.
“This is a complex investigation and we have worked quickly with the relevant companies and local authorities concerned to narrow down the wide range of foods consumed to a small number of salad leaf products which have been used in sandwiches, wraps, sandwiches and rolls. .
“After a thorough analysis of the food chain, these products are being removed from the market as a precautionary measure.”
‘Infections caused by STEC bacteria can cause severe bloody diarrhea and, in some cases, more serious complications.
«Therefore, we recommend that consumers who have any of these products do not consume them.
‘The FSA is here to make sure food is safe.
More than 200 Britons are now known to have been affected by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a rare strain of the virus that causes diarrhoea, in recent weeks.
“If there are products on the market that are not, we will not hesitate to take action to eliminate them.”
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, also said: “Food safety is a top priority for our members and those selling or preparing food are well aware of food safety measures.”
He added: “Affected retailers are taking swift action to remove these products from sale and are working closely with the FSA to take any additional steps necessary to minimize the risk to their customers.”
STEC is considered extremely contagious; It only takes ingesting a few bacteria for a person to get sick.
Symptoms of infection include vomiting, fever, stomach cramps and diarrhea that can last up to two weeks.
But in up to 15 percent of cases, the virus can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure.
Children under five years of age are at highest risk for HUS.
A small proportion of adults may develop a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).
However, it can also affect other vulnerable groups, including the elderly and the immunocompromised.
STEC is primarily spread by eating contaminated foods, such as raw vegetables that have not been washed or stored properly or undercooked meat.
It can also be transmitted by touching infected animals or their feces, either directly or through contaminated water.
People can also spread the virus through direct content, such as caring for a child who is sick and then touching their face and mouth without properly washing their hands.