'Do not eat': Chicken pulled from shelves over fears it could cause meningitis
Chicken products have been pulled from the supermarket shelves over fears they could cause meningitis.
Spar is recalling several chicken products because Listeria monocytogenes – a pathogenic bacteria – has been found in them.
The notice, issued through the Food Standards Agency, affects SPAR Enjoy Local Cooked Chicken Pieces and Spar Enjoy Local Cooked Chicken Slices.
Both products are 150g in pack size, have batch code 5126, and have a best-before date of May 21, 2025.
Spar Enjoy Local Cooked Chicken Fillets, with a pack size of 300g and the same best-before date, are also affected.
Symptoms caused by this organism 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, babies less than one month old and people with weakened immune systems.
Point of sale notices will be displayed where the products are sold.
A Spar statement read: 'If you have bought the above products, do not eat them. Instead, return the products to where they were bought for a full refund.
'Any customers with queries or concerns can contact SPAR Customer Services on 0289 034 2733.'
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