Everything we know so far as one adult dead after listeriosis outbreak
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said its National Outbreak Control Team was investigating the outbreak, with nine confirmed cases identified as of Tuesday. It said this was linked to its precautionary recall of ready-to-heat meals.
The FSAI had recalled on Tuesday night over 200 different types of ready meals sold in major supermarkets, which it warned could be contaminated with listeria. An adult has died with a confirmed case of the bacterial infection listeriosis amid an 'extensive' outbreak linked to hundreds of types of ready meals, officials have said. Pic: Getty Images
The HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre confirmed that it was investigating the death. It said it could not disclose any further details to ensure medical confidentiality.
Consumers are being warned not to eat the meals and side dishes as they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a harmful bacterium. The 201 products include chicken curries, lasagnes, bolognese, pasta bakes, cottage pies, and chow mein.
Affected side dishes include ready-made mashed potatoes, carrots and peas, green cabbage and pilau rice. They have been sold in Tesco, SuperValu, Centra, Lidl, Aldi, and other outlets. Affected side dishes include ready-made mashed potatoes, carrots and peas, green cabbage and pilau rice. They have been sold in Tesco, SuperValu, Centra, Lidl, Aldi, and other outlets. Pic: WD Stock Photos/Shutterstock
The FSAI has said retailers must remove the implicated products from sale, and display recall notices in their stores. Wholesalers and distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products, while caterers should not use these products.
Consumers are advised not to eat the listed products, and to check their freezers and throw out any of the ready meals mentioned.
The products are produced by food manufacturer Bally-Maguire Foods, from Lusk, Co. Dublin, which describes itself as a market leader in chilled ready meals. Its products are marketed under the private label brands of its customers, and the affected products include Tesco's Meals Made Easy, Irish Classics and Finest products. The FSAI has said retailers must remove the implicated products from sale, and display recall notices in their stores. Pic: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
The Happy Pear, Food To Go, Clean Cut, Fuel'd Foods, and Kitchen products are also listed. SuperValu's Signature Taste, SuperValu and Freshly Prepared ranges contain affected products, the FSAI said.
Products from Centra's Centra and Freshly Prepared range are also listed, as is the Inspired Cuisine and Special Selected range of Aldi. Other affected products are in the From the Farm and Good Food Locally Sourced brands, sold in various retailers.
The full list of products recalled by the Food Safety Authority can be seen at fsai.ie online.
Food safety inspectors are working to trace any further products that may have been potentially affected. The FSAI said symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
In rare cases, the infection can be more severe. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Ballymaguire Foods said that it had taken 'immediate corrective actions' and has apologised to its customers for any concern caused. It said it had issued a full 'precautionary recall' of all products prepared at one of its facilities, after a quality control check identified Listeria bacteria.
'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 said in a statement.
The company said it had undertaken a full pharmaceutical-grade clean-down of the facility, and 'will resume production once it is confirmed safe to do so'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
20 hours ago
- The Journal
Why have there been so many food recalls over listeria?
THE FOOD SAFETY Authority has recalled almost 150 food items since last week due to the possible presence of harmful bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria is a pathogenic bacteria which can cause the listeriosis disease. Last week, one person in Ireland died as a result of listeriosis, while as of last Tuesday, nine people were confirmed to have the infection. Yesterday, seven different spinach and mixed leaves products produced by McCormack Family Farms were recalled due to the detection of listeria monocytogenes, with two more spinach products affected by another recall today. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) had released a statement earlier today to say there are no cases of listeriosis associated with the spinach and mixed leaves products that are the subject of this recall. It said there is currently no evidence that this food recall is linked with the separate listeriosis outbreak, which first emerged last week and is related to ready-to-heat meals. The food safety watchdog acknowledged consumers may be anxious at the news of a second series of recalls involving Listeria monocytogenes. It said: 'While we urge people to be aware of the risks, and to take precautions when using ready-to-eat foods, they can be assured that there is a robust food control system in place in Ireland, which contributed to the identification of the latest need for a recall.' What has been recalled? 142 different ready-made meals and side dishes sold in major supermarkets across Ireland, which are made and distributed by Dublin-based Ballymaguire Foods , were recalled last week due to the possible presence of the bacteria. Seven different spinach and mixed leaves products produced by McCormack Family Farms were recalled yesterday due to the detection of listeria monocytogenes, with two more batches recalled today. The full list of the dates of the affected products is available on the FSAI website . Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale in stores. Supermarkets impacted by the recalls include Tesco, Supervalu, Centra and Aldi. Advertisement What are Listeria monocytogenes and listeriosis? Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The pathogenic bacteria, according to the FSAI, can cause diarrhoea, fever, headache and muscle pain. Consumption of contaminated food and feed is the main route of infection by Listeria in humans and animals, although human infection can also result from contact with infected animals. The Listeria bacteria that can cause illness is killed by cooking food thoroughly. The FSAI said there are between 14 and 22 cases of listeriosis reported in Ireland each year. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. These individuals are advised to avoid higher risk foods and ensure that they cook ready-to-heat meals thoroughly until piping hot, and in line with manufacturer's instructions. What should I do if I've come into contact with a recalled food? If you have eaten any recalled foods and you feel unwell, seek medical advice. If you feel well, you don't need to do anything. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is three weeks on average, but can range between three and 70 days. Consumers are advised not to eat recalled products. The FSAI has advised consumers to dispose of them, or return them to the store where they purchased them, as directed by the retailer. Retailers are requested to remove the implicated products from sale and display recall notices at the point-of-sale. Wholesalers and distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers. Caterers should not use the implicated products. Measures to reduce the risk of listeriosis: Always wash your hands before and after preparing food, and before eating Cook food thoroughly, especially meat and meat products, chicken and vegetables, and pre-prepared, ready-to-heat meals, ensuring that they are cooked through to the middle and piping hot (food that requires cooking should reach 75 degrees Celsius for at least 30 seconds) Wash salads, fruit and raw vegetables thoroughly before eating, or peel if appropriate Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked and ready-to-eat foods Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after contact with uncooked food Make sure that your refrigerator is working correctly (it should be kept between 0 degrees Celsius and 5 degrees Celsius) When heating food in a microwave, ensure you follow heating and standing times recommended by the manufacturer Keep foods for as short a time as possible and follow storage instructions, including 'use by' dates Throw away left-over reheated food. Cooked food which is not eaten immediately should be cooled as rapidly as possible and then stored in the refrigerator Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... Our Explainer articles bring context and explanations in plain language to help make sense of complex issues. We're asking readers like you to support us so we can continue to provide helpful context to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
a day ago
- The Journal
FSAI orders recall of another two spinach products affected by Listeria monocytogenes
THE FOOD SAFETY Authority of Ireland has issued another warning to the public about spinach products that may contain the harmful bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The FSAI said this afternoon that it issued a recall of two products from McCormack Family Farms. The recalled products are McCormack Family Farms Irish Spinach Leaves 500g (batches L199, L200, L202, L203, L204, L205) and Fresh Choice Market Spinach Leaves 100g with use-by dates ranging from 25 to 31 July. Two spinach products recalled by the FSAI FSAI FSAI The two spinach products are the latest to be added to a long list of similar products recalled by the FSAI yesterday . The full list of the dates of those affected products is available on the FSAI website . Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale in stores. Last week, an 'extensive outbreak' of Listeria monocytogenes resulted in the recall of over 140 ready-made meals produced by Ballymaguire Foods. The meals were produced for a number of major supermarkets in Ireland. Advertisement Medical professionals are currently investigating the death of an adult with confirmed listeriosis, with nine people confirmed as having the infection. The FSAI said today that there is 'currently no evidence' that the spinach and mixed leaves recalls are linked with last week's listeriosis outbreak linked to the ready-to-heat meals, which is currently under investigation. The food safety watchdog acknowledged consumers may be anxious at the news of a second series of recalls involving Listeria monocytogenes. It said: 'While we urge people to be aware of the risks, and to take precautions when using ready-to-eat foods, they can be assured that there is a robust food control system in place in Ireland, which contributed to the identification of the latest need for a recall.' Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days. Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated products. Retailers are requested to remove the implicated products from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale. Wholesalers and distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
Further batches of spinach recalled over listeria
Batches of two further spinach products sold in Irish supermarkets have been recalled due to the detection of listeria monocytogenes. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued alerts for two further products, one by McCormack Family Farms and another by Fresh Choice. The following batches of 500g McCormack Family Farms Irish Spinach Leaves have been recalled: L199, L200, L202, L203, L204 and L205. While Fresh Choice Market Spinach Leaves 100g with the following use-by dates have also been recalled: 25/07/2025, 26/07/2025, 27/07/2025, 28/07/2025, 29/07/2025, 30/07/2025 and 31/07/2025. The FSAI has requested that retailers remove the implicated products from sale, and display recall notices at point-of-sale. Wholesalers and distributors are being asked to contact their affected customers and recall the affected products and put a recall notice in place. Caterers who may be in possession of the impacted products have been asked not to use them, while consumers are advised not to eat them. The FSAI has said there is currently "no evidence that this food recall is linked with the listeriosis outbreak related to ready-to-heat meals that is currently under investigation". Over 200 ready-made meals produced by Ballymaguire Foods were called back early last week. The authority said that one person with a confirmed case of listeria died, while nine other cases were identified as of Tuesday last week. The FSAI's latest update follows a recall yesterday of seven spinach and mixed leaves products following detection of harmful bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The FSAI said that symptoms of listeria can include mild flu-like symptoms such as gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Symptoms can be more severe in rare cases, it added. "Some people are more vulnerable to listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. "The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average three weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days," said the FSAI. The FSAI said today that to date, there are no cases of listeriosis associated with the spinach and mixed leaves products that were subject of yesterday's recall. How inspections are carried out The FSAI and official agencies carry out inspections of food production facilities and review all the control measures in place. This includes examining the testing regimes for listeria at the factory and also taking official control samples of food and equipment. These official control samples are tested for listeria monocytogenes in accredited laboratories run by the State. Where listeria monocytogenes is found in any official control samples, enforcement action is taken to minimise or eliminate the risk to consumers. "Precautionary recalls of food due to Listeria monocytogenes can be found by either the food business itself or the authorities and happen from time to time, reflecting the high level of awareness, control and testing that takes place in factory settings," the FSAI said.
