Doctor warns E. coli outbreak 'much worse' for three groups of people

The illness caused by an outbreak of E. coli is "much worse" in young children, elderly people and those with underlying conditions in their immune system, Dr Sarah Pitt, virologist at the University of Brighton, said.

It comes as a third company recalled a product as a "precautionary measure" due to possible E. coli contamination. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said manufacturer THIS! has issued a recall notice to customers over its vegan chicken and bacon wrap, which is sold only at WH Smith.

The agency said anyone who purchased the product at any point up to and including Tuesday, June 18, should not eat it and instead return it to the store for a full refund. It comes just days after manufacturers Greencore Group and Samworth Brothers Manton Wood recalled a variety of sandwiches, wraps and salads sold in major UK supermarkets because of a potential link to an E.coli outbreak that left people across the UK in hospital.

Dr Pitt told BBC Breakfast: "If you do have diarrhoea, just try not to pass it on to other people, be very careful about your own health, but also be mindful of the people around you because this illness is much worse in young children, elderly, people who have some underlying condition in their immune system as we often see with these infectious diseases. So just keep an eye out for people that you know, just to make sure they're not getting any worse if they have diarrhoea as well."

Dr Pitt said that by looking at the dates, she thinks people ate the contaminated foods potentially in half-term, or the weeks just around it. She added: "So people may have been out and about doing slightly different things, you know, slightly out of the ordinary."

Dr Pitt said to protect yourself, take recalled sandwiches back to the shop as per advice, wash pre-prepared bag salad, fruits and vegetables and cook them thoroughly, remember good hand hygiene, and if you have diarrhoea do not go to work or visit elderly relatives or people with young children.

The products being recalled by Greencore include sandwiches, wraps and salads sold at Sainsbury's, Asda, Aldi, Morrisons, Co-op, and retail pharmacy chain Boots. Samworth Brothers Manton Wood is recalling various Tesco and One Stop sandwiches and wraps.

Darren Whitby, head of incidents at the Food Standards Agency, said: "Sandwich manufacturers are taking a precautionary measure to recall various sandwiches wraps and salads in response to findings from investigations by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), who are working to identify the cause of an ongoing outbreak caused by shiga toxin-producing E.coli (Stec)."

Greencore Group said in a statement: "As a precautionary measure, we have voluntarily recalled a number of sandwiches and wraps due to a potential food safety risk. Greencore adheres to the highest standards of food safety, and we are working closely with the Food Standards Agency and our suppliers to better understand the possible source of any potential issue."

A Samworth Brothers Manton Wood spokesperson said: "The Food Standards Agency has advised the supplier of a salad ingredient which we use in a small number of products that it should undertake a product withdrawal and recall. Meanwhile, food chain investigations are being carried out, which have not yet reached any conclusions.

"A small number of sandwich and wrap lines that are made at our Manton Wood site are being recalled as a precautionary measure to ensure a high level of health protection for consumers. No other Manton Wood products are affected."

E. coli are a diverse group of bacteria that are normally harmless and live in the intestines of humans and animals. However some strains, like Stec, can make people very ill.

As of June 11, the number of cases associated with the Stec outbreak is 211, an increase of 98 since a previous update from UKHSA on June 6. Based on information from 160 cases to date, 42% were admitted to hospital.

Trish Mannes, incident director at UKHSA, said: "We would like to thank all the cases who have provided information that has enabled us, through epidemiological analysis of questionnaire data and food-tracing investigations, to narrow down the likely food product linked to this outbreak."

Earlier this month, the agency confirmed at least 37 people had been admitted to hospital following the E. coli outbreak, which it believed to be linked to food. Whole genome sequencing of samples showed the majority of the 113 cases reported across the UK between May 25 and June 4 were part of a single outbreak.

At the time, the agency said it believed the outbreak, which mostly affected young adults, was linked to a nationally distributed food item or multiple food items. Some 147 cases were confirmed in England, with 27 in Wales, 35 in Scotland and two in Northern Ireland who believe they fell ill in England.

Symptoms of E. Coli after outbreak

People infected with Stec can suffer diarrhoea, and about 50% of cases have bloody diarrhoea. Other symptoms include stomach cramps and fever. Symptoms can last up to two weeks in uncomplicated cases.

Some patients, mainly children, may develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome which is a serious life-threatening condition resulting in kidney failure. A small proportion of adults may develop a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP).

Mr Whitby added: "This is a complex investigation, and we have worked swiftly with the relevant businesses and the local authorities concerned to narrow down the wide range of foods consumed to a small number of salad leaf products that have been used in sandwiches and wraps. Following thorough food chain analysis, these products are being recalled as a precaution.

"The FSA is here to ensure that food is safe. If there are products on the market that are not, we won't hesitate to take action to remove them."

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: "Food safety is the highest priority for our members and those who sell or prepare food are well-versed in food safety measures. Following investigations by the FSA and UKHSA regulators, a number of manufacturers in the supply chain are taking precautionary measures and issuing a recall notice for a small number of products. Retailers affected are taking swift action to remove these products from sale and are working closely with the Food Standards Agency to take any further action needed to minimise risk to their customers."

Full list of products recalled over E. coli fears

Here is the full list of Greencore Group products that have been recalled over possible contamination with E.coli:

– Aldi Chicken Fajita Triple Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Amazon BLT Sandwich with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Asda Smoky Beans and Cheddar Cheese Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 15.

– Asda Chicken Salad (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 15.

– Asda Chicken and Bacon Club (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 15.

– Asda Brie, Bacon and Chilli Chutney (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 15.

– Asda BLT (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots BBQ Chicken wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots BLT (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Cheddar Cheese Ploughman’s (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Chicken and Bacon Caesar Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Chicken Salad (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Amazon Chicken Salad Sandwich with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Chicken Triple (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Delicious Ham and Cheese Ploughman’s (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Halloumi and Greek Style Salad wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Ham and Egg Club (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Mixed Triple (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Southern Fried Chicken Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Spicy Bean and Cheese Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Vegan No Chicken Salad (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Vegan No Duck and Hoisin Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Boots Veggie Triple (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Amazon Ploughman’s Sandwich with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Co-op Vegan Gro Onion Bhaji (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Co-op Mexican Style Bean and Cheese Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Co-op Ham, Cheese and Pickle (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Co-op Ham and Cheese Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Co-op Chicken and Bacon Caesar Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 17.

– Co-op Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Morrisons Chicken Salad (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Morrisons Chicken Salad PFS (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Morrisons Gluten Free Chicken Salad (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Morrisons Gluten Free Sandwich Platter with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Amazon Chicken & Bacon Layered Salad with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Sainsbury’s Peri Peri Chicken Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Sainsbury’s BBQ Pulled Pork and Red Leicester (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Sainsbury’s Chicken, Bacon and Avocado Focaccia (Sandwich) with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Sainsbury’s Greek Style Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Sainsbury’s Jerk Halloumi Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Amazon Prawn Layered Salad with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Asda Vegan No Chicken Caesar Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 15.

– Asda Tuna Crunch Sub Roll with use-by date up to and including June 15.

– Asda Southern Fried Chicken Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 15.

– Asda Southern Fried Chicken Triple Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 15.

Here is the full list of Samworth Brothers Manton Wood products that have been recalled over possible contamination with E.coli:

– Tesco Chicken Salad Sandwich with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Tesco Chicken Salad Sub with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– The Gym Kitchen Peri Peri Chicken Chilled Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– OneStop Tuna Crunch Sub with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– OneStop Chicken Salad Sandwich with use-by date up to and including June 17.

– OneStop Hoisin Duck Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 17.

– OneStop Chicken Bacon & Lettuce Sandwich with use-by date up to and including June 17.

– Tesco BBQ Chicken Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Tesco Hoi Sin Duck Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Tesco The Chicken Club Sandwich with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Tesco Tuna Crunch Sub with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Tesco Spicy Bean Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Tesco Chicken Bacon & Lettuce Sandwich with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Tesco Fajita Chicken Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.

– Tesco Summer Edition Greek Style Chicken Gyros Wrap with use-by date up to and including June 16.