Sainsbury’s recalls sandwich fillers as food poisoning bug Listeria is found

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has removed 13 of its own brand sandwich fillers from shelves after food poisoning bug Listeria was found in the products.

Sainsbury’s Deli Fillers were withdrawn on Tuesday after Listeria monocytogenes, a bug which can cause flu-like symptoms, sickness and diarrhoea, was found.

In rare cases of infection the bug can have severe complications, including causing meningitis, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned.

People over the age of 65 are thought to be more vulnerable.

Sainsbury’s has pulled the Cheese & Onion, Chicken & Sweetcorn, Coronation Chicken, Chicken Tikka, Egg & Bacon, Egg Mayo, Seafood Cocktail and Tuna & Sweetcorn Deli Fillers from its shelves.

All the products have a use by date of July 4.

Customers are being urged to return the deli fillers to get a full refund.

A spokesman said: "Routine testing carried out by our supplier has found listeria in a small number of pre-packaged sandwich fillers in our Deli range. As a precautionary measure we’re recalling them.

“We’re asking customers not to eat these products and return them to their nearest Sainsbury’s for a full refund. We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused.”

The FSA said: “Sainsbury’s is recalling a number of their products because Listeria monocytogenes has been found in some of the products.

“Symptoms caused by Listeria can be similar to flu and include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea. However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis.

“Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria infections, including those over 65 years of age, pregnant women and their unborn babies, babiels less than one month old and people with weakened immune systems.”