The 9 ways to avoid getting listeriosis after death linked to ready meals sold in Aldi and Tesco

The Sun

25-07-2025

HEALTH officials have confirmed one person has died after a listeriosis outbreak in Ireland.
A total of nine cases of the bacterial infection have been identified, which have been linked to a product recall affecting food manufacturer Ballymaguire Foods.
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Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes, often contracted through food.
While healthy adults and children may experience mild symptoms, such as fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhoea, or no symptoms, listeriosis can be severe, especially for pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
In severe cases, it can lead to complications like meningitis, sepsis, and in pregnant women, miscarriage or stillbirth.
Hundreds of ready meals stocked in Tesco, Aldi, and other supermarkets across Ireland have fallen under the recall, including Tesco's Meals Made Easy, Irish Classics and Finest products.
A full list of the food products recalled can be viewed here.
Meals include cottage pies, lasagnes, pasta bakes, curries and potato side dishes.
While listeria can contaminate a wide range of foods, it's more common in ready-to-eat foods, according to the Foods Standards Agency (FSA).
Examples include cold pre-cooked meats, such as chicken, pâté , cooked shellfish, soft mould-ripened cheeses, pre-prepared sandwiches and salads , and pre-cut fruits.
The FSA also advises nine steps to follow to reduce the risk of listeriosis, especially at home.
Chill your food below 5°C - this will stop or significantly slow the growth of bacteria including listeria.
Refrigerate foods as soon as possible - refrigerate them after purchase and eat ready-to-eat foods shortly after removing them from the fridge, within four hours or within two hours on a very warm day and keep them out of direct sunlight.
Always eat, cook or freeze foods by their use-by date - foods after their use-by date may look and smell fine, but they could be unsafe and make you ill. You cannot see, smell or taste bacteria that causes foodborne illness.
Always follow the storage instructions, including those for opened foods, and ready to eat foods provided on the label - if there are no instructions, use opened foods within two days.
Follow the cooking instructions on the packaging when applicable - this includes cooking and re-heating foods (including frozen vegetables) until they are steaming hot right through.
Avoid cross-contamination - this might lead to bacteria passing from raw foods to foods that are ready to eat via things like reusable shopping bags, knives, dirty surfaces and chopping boards .
Wash certain foods thoroughly before eating raw - this includes fruit, vegetables, and salad leaves.
Make sure food preparation areas are clean - this prevents harmful bacteria from spreading.
Wash your hands - do this regularly with soap and water before, during and after meal preparation .
Video explains what Listeria is and how the bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea is spread
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said it's investigating the latest outbreak, and the Health Service Executive's (HSE) Health Protection Surveillance Centre is looking into the death.
In a statement, Ballymaguire Foods said: "Incidents of this nature are extremely rare for us. We are treating it with the utmost seriousness and are working closely with all parties to manage the situation swiftly and responsibly."
It added: "We sincerely apologise to our customers and consumers for the concern this may cause.'
Consumers of the products have been advised not to eat the implicated products.
They should also check their freezers for the meals and dispose of them.
Retailers have also been instructed to pull the implicated ready meals from shelves and to display recall notices at the point of sale.
Symptoms of listeriosis
IN most people, listeriosis has no symptoms or only causes mild symptoms for a few days, such as:
a high temperature
aches and pains
chills
feeling or being sick
diarrhoea
If you're pregnant, you may also have a stomach ache or notice your baby moving less than usual.
Babies with listeriosis may also be irritable and feed less than usual.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
you're pregnant and think you have listeriosis
you have a condition that weakens your immune system (like cancer or kidney disease) and think you have listeriosis
you're having treatment that weakens your immune system (like chemotherapy or steroid tablets) and think you have listeriosis
you think your baby might have listeriosis
You can call NHS 111 or get help from 111 online.
If you're pregnant, you can also call your midwife for advice.
Call 999 or go to A&E if you or your child:
have a severe headache and stiff neck
find it uncomfortable to look at bright lights
have a fit (seizure)
feel suddenly confused
feel very sleepy or are difficult to wake
have a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it – the rash may be blotchy, like bruises or small red pinpricks
These could be symptoms of meningitis caused by listeriosis, which needs to be treated in hospital straight away.