E.coli symptoms after UK supermarkets in urgent food recall with over 40 items affected

Dozens of food items have been recalled by manufacturers amid fears of a possible E.coli outbreak.

Greencore Group - which provides products to a number of high-profile supermarkets - have recalled the items in a 'precautionary measures'. The products being recalled include sandwiches, wraps and salads sold at Sainsbury’s, Asda, Aldi, Morrisons, Co-op, and retail pharmacy chain Boots. View the full list so far here.

Manufacturer Samworth Brothers Manton Wood has also said it is taking the precautionary step of recalling various Tesco and One Stop sandwiches and wraps because of possible contamination with E.coli, the Food Standards Agency said. E.coli has not been detected in the products but they are being recalled as a precaution.

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).”

READ MORE: E.Coli contamination LIVE as supermarkets issue major food recall - latest updates

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.”

STEC infection can also lead to haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal, officials warned.

As well as spreading through eating contaminated food, E.coli infection can also spread through direct contact with an infected animal or an infected person. It is not uncommon for the illness to spread from one infected person to other people living in the same household, the UKHSA said.

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, UKHSA said.

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 24 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 81 cases were confirmed in England, with 18 in Wales, 13 in Scotland and one person in Northern Ireland who believes they fell ill in England.

STEC symptoms

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).

People with symptoms should avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes so that they don't pass the infection on to vulnerable people. You should also avoid returning to school or work until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped.

According to the NHS, symptoms of food poisoning include:

• feeling sick

• diarrhoea

• being sick

• stomach cramps

• a high temperature of 38C or above

• feeling generally unwell – such as feeling tired or having aches and chills

Symptoms usually start within a few days of eating the food that caused the infection, the NHS said, but sometimes they may start after a few hours or not for a few weeks.

Symptoms of food poisoning usually pass within a week. The most important thing is to have lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration.