Twenty-five types of sandwiches, rolls and wraps have been urgently recalled over fears they are contaminated with listeria.
Safety regulators warned that lunchtime products made by Bread Spread were not manufactured “in accordance with food law requirements.”
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) placed a ‘do not eat’ label on all affected products.
More sandwiches could soon be pulled from shelves, officials said.
Some of the products are sold under the Orbital Foods and Perfect Bite brands.
A selection of sandwiches sold by Bread Spread. The Food Safety Authority (FSA) has issued an urgent warning in respect of all chilled and ready-to-eat foods manufactured by the company with a best before date up to and including 18 May 2024.
Bread Spread headquarters in Southall. Traces of listeria, a bacteria that can cause serious illness, were found in products made by the west London firm.
Traces of listeria, a bacteria that can cause serious illness, were found in products made by the west London company.
The FSA warned that the sandwiches were subject to “additional hygiene and traceability breaches” making them unsafe to eat.
Bread Spread, which prides itself on being “environmentally responsible”, says it supplies universities, colleges and more than 1,000 independent retailers.
FSA bosses said all chilled and prepared foods made or manufactured by Bread Spread with a best before date up to and including May 18 were affected.
Listeria can cause an infection called listeriosis, which can cause flu-like symptoms such as high temperature, muscle aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Most adults experience only mild illness due to infection.
In rare cases, it can cause meningitis, a very serious infection of the membrane that protects the brain and spinal cord, which can cause permanent damage.
The elderly, pregnant women, as well as fetuses and those with weakened immune systems, such as chemotherapy patients, are especially vulnerable to getting sick.
Listeriosis is especially dangerous for people who are immunocompromised or have an underlying illness.
Businesses must remove affected products from shelves and dispose of them, as well as issue recalls to customers, the FSA said.
Customers who have purchased the products are advised to discard them.
The watchdog also warned that the situation was “developing” and that more products than those included in the notice could be affected.
Cases of listeriosis are relatively rare in the UK, with only 160 cases recorded on average each year.
However, this could be an underestimate, as many healthy adults may not seek help for their symptoms.
Listeria is an unusual bacteria because it can increase refrigeration temperatures.
It typically enters food production through contaminated ingredients, either through vegetables that have been in contact with infected manure or meat or dairy from infected animals.
Bread Spread has not issued any warnings on its website about the FSA safety warnings.
MailOnline attempted to contact Bread Spread for comment.
