Yahoo News Boots £4.99 sandwich gives Macclesfield man bloody diarrhoea as E.coli outbreak continues
John Daniels, a 66-year-old chartered surveyor from Macclesfield, has recounted the harrowing experience of being hospitalised with a severe neurological condition after eating a contaminated £4.99 Boots sandwich.
Just two days after eating the chicken and bacon Caesar wrap, John had an abnormal experience eating the pre-made sandwich, when he began suffering from intense diarrhoea and started passing blood. Daniels was rushed to the hospital on May 19, where he was diagnosed with E. coli the next day.
Although discharged on May 22, his condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to another hospital visit due to dizziness, weakness, and difficulty walking without support. It was then that he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a serious affliction of the nervous system, triggered by the E. coli infection.
A month into his ordeal, Daniels has lost significant weight and remains under close medical supervision. He has since engaged legal representation to investigate the illness following revelations that the outbreak affected hundreds, prompting the recall of at least 60 varieties of pre-packed sandwiches, wraps, and salads, with at least 67 people hospitalised.
Reflecting on his traumatic experience, John stated: "The past month has been nothing short of traumatic.
"I've never been that unwell before so I knew something was very wrong, but to be told I had E.coli and then Guillain-Barre Syndrome was a huge shock.
"My condition went from bad to worse as I developed complication after complication. I'm still not right physically, and I don't know if I ever will be, and to hear how many others have been affected is deeply upsetting."
"I just hope that something is done to stop it happening to anyone else."
Food manufacturer THIS! has issued a recall for its vegan 'chicken and bacon' wrap due to concerns over E. coli contamination. Customers who purchased the product from WHSmith before June 18 are being advised not to consume it.
This action follows similar recalls by Greencore Group and Samworth Brothers Manton Wood, who have pulled at least 60 pre-packaged items from shelves.
The Food Standards Agency has expressed confidence that lettuce leaves are the source of the outbreak. Retailers implicated in the recall include Aldi, Asda, Boots, Co-op and Morrisons.
Sarita Sharma, a specialist public health lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: "What John has suffered over the past few weeks is very concerning, and he's understandably upset and distressed at what he's been through as a result of the E.coli infection.
"To hear that more than 200 people have also been affected is truly shocking.E.coli is a bacteria which can cause foodborne illness, leading to gastric symptoms and in some cases, such as John's, it can lead to other serious health conditions.
"The UK Health Security Agency is now investigating and has found that John's illness is likely to have come from the recalled sandwich. It's now vital, where applicable, that lessons are learned going forward to keep consumers safe."
