Yahoo News Urgent recall issued for sandwiches and wraps over 'serious food safety risks'
An urgent food recall alert has been issued for a number of sandwich products that have been pulled from sale due to a risk of serious infection.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has informed shoppers and food businesses that all products manufactured and supplied by the company Bread Spread should not be eaten, in what is has described as a "developing situation". The chilled and ready-to-eat products, which include baguettes, French sticks, sandwiches, rolls and wraps, have been found to contain the harmful bacteria Listeria monocytogenes.
This bacteria causes the infection listeriosis, which can produce symptoms similar to the flu including a high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick, and diarrhoea. However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe and cause serious complications, such as meningitis, with those over 65 years of age, pregnant women, babies under one month old, and people with weakened immune systems particularly vulnerable.
A statement issued by the FSA on Monday, May 13 explained that products made by Bread Spread Ltd, under the brand names Bread Spread, Orbital Foods and Perfect Bite, "have not been manufactured in accordance with food law requirements". As well as being found to contain Listeria monocytogenes, the products are also subject to "a number of hygiene and traceability contraventions", the FSA added, making them unsafe to eat.
The FSA has issued a list of 25 products that have been so far confirmed to pose "serious food safety risks". However, the agency has advised that more products may be added to this list as the situation develops, with all chilled and ready-to eat foods manufactured or supplied by Bread Spead Ltd with a use-by date up to and including May 18, 2024 affected, including the below:
Tuna sweetcorn French stick
Ham cheese French stick
Egg sausage sandwich
Chicken tikka sandwich
Chicken salad sandwich
Chicken sweetcorn sandwich
Ham cheese sandwich
Cheese ploughman sandwich
Chicken mayo soft roll
Tuna sweetcorn soft roll
Egg mayo soft roll
Ham cheese torpedo
Chicken tikka French stick
Tuna sweetcorn torpedo
Chicken bacon twist
Egg mayo torpedo
Cheese onion soft roll
Chicken tikka soft roll
Chicken sweetcorn French stick
Chicken salad sandwich
Chicken sweetcorn baguette
Egg mayo sausage baguette
Tuna sweetcorn torpedo
Chicken mayo torpedo
Tuna sweetcorn twist
The FSA has confirmed that action is being taken by enforcement authorities, as these products "have not been prepared in accordance with food hygiene, safety and other legislative requirements" and therefore do not comply with EU regulations. Local authorities have been requested to remove the unsafe products from the market.
The NHS advises that listeriosis only causes mild symptoms for a few days in most people, and is usually not serious. However, the health service says you should ask for an urgent GP appointment or seek help from NHS 111 if you're pregnant and think you have listeriosis, if you think your baby might have listeriosis, or you have a condition or are having treatment that weakens your immune system.
You should call 999 or go to A&E if you or your child has a severe headache and stiff neck, find it uncomfortable to look at bright lights, are suddenly confused, very sleepy or difficult to wake, have a seizure, or have a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it. These could be symptoms of meningitis caused by listeriosis, which needs to be treated in hospital straight away.
