Latest news with #FoodSafetyAuthorityofIreland
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
One dead as 9 people struck down with killer infection after eating ready meals sold in Tesco and Aldi
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A PERSON has died after contracting a rare bacterial infection, health bosses have confirmed. The adult was among nine confirmed cases of listeriosis, an infection usually suffered after eating contaminated food. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The adult was among nine confirmed cases of listeriosis Credit: Getty Images - Getty The HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is probing the death in Ireland. Listeriosis is caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes and is a notifiable disease, meaning medical practitioners are required to tell public health bosses if a case comes to their attention. It follows a major recall of ready-made meals from Irish stores due to the possible presence of listeria monocytogenes. The list of over 200 recalled products is available here. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said in a statement: "A National Outbreak Control Team is currently investigating an extensive outbreak of listeriosis. "A voluntary precautionary food recall of ready-to-heat meals is underway due to a link with the outbreak. "Nine confirmed cases of listeriosis have been identified as of 22 July 2025. "The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been notified of and is investigating the death of an adult with confirmed listeriosis. "To ensure medical confidentiality, no further information on this patient can be disclosed. "The National Outbreak Control Team is chaired by the HSE National Health Protection Office and comprises the HSE National Environmental Health Service, the HSE Regional Public Health Services, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the National Salmonella, Shigella and Listeria Reference Laboratory and the National Reference Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. "The investigation is ongoing and there is no further comment at this time." How to protect myself from listeriosis? Protecting yourself against the fatal bacteria is vital, especially for pregnant women, infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. There are several measures issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre that can significantly reduce the risk of contracting the infection: Keep foods for as short a time as possible and follow storage instructions including 'use by' and 'eat by' dates Cook food thoroughly, especially meat, ensuring that it is cooked through to the middle Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked and ready-to-eat foods Wash salads, fruit and raw vegetables thoroughly before eating, or peel if appropriate Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after contact with uncooked food Make sure that the refrigerator is working correctly When heating food in a microwave, follow heating and standing times recommended by the manufacturer Throw away leftover reheated food. Cooked food which is not eaten immediately should be cooled as rapidly as possible and then stored in the refrigerator Pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems should avoid eating high-risk foods such as: raw (unpasteurised) milk foods made from raw milk, soft or mould-ripened cheeses (e.g. feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses), pâté smoked salmon If contact with ewes at lambing time is unavoidable for pregnant women, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems, washing hands after handling animals should reduce any possibility of infection The recalled branded prepared meals and side dishes were produced by Ballymaguire Foods, but are marketed under the labels of the stores selling them. The list includes popular ready meals such as the Meals Made Easy, Beef Lasagne and Finest Cottage Pie, both sold in Tesco, and the Signature Taste Potato Mash sold in SuperValu. Centra Freshly Prepared Chicken Massaman with Sticky Jasmine Rice and Aldi Inspired Cousine Chicken & Broccoli Bake were also recalled following the alert. Also included are The Happy Pear Shepherdless Pie, Creamy Veggie Lasagne and Chickpea Curry items. BALLYMAGUIRE STATEMENT Ballymaguire Foods told RTE News it had started a "full precautionary recall of all products produced at one of our facilities following the identification of listeria bacteria as part of a quality control check". Apologising to customers, it added that "incidents of this nature are extremely rare for us". It said it is treating the outbreak "with the utmost seriousness and are working closely with all parties to manage the situation swiftly and responsibly". On Saturday, July 19 it said it temporarily suspended all production at the affected facility and carried out a full pharmaceutical-grade clean-down operation, while production will resume when it is confirmed safe to do so. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES Ballymaguire Foods added: "Immediately upon identifying the issue, we informed our retail and food-service customers and engaged with all relevant authorities, including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the Health Service Executive, and our regional Environmental Health Officer. "Through our retail partners, all products are being withdrawn from the shelves, and a full consumer communication process is under way." As a precautionary measure Ballymaguire Foods said that on Saturday it made the decision to temporarily suspend all production at the affected facility, and that a comprehensive assessment and immediate corrective actions were carried out, including a full pharmaceutical-grade clean down of the facility. It said production will resume at the facility once it is confirmed safe to do so. DO NOT EAT WARNING Consumers are advised to check their freezers for the implicated products and dispose of them. They are also encouraged not to eat the affected ready meals and to dispose of them or return them to the point-of-sale. The FSAI added that recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale. They continued: "Retailers are requested to remove the implicated products from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale. RECALL NOTICE "Wholesalers/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." If healthy customers have consumed the contaminated food with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, they are usually fine as they don't exhibit any symptoms or cause a mild flu-like illness. But if immunocompromised and elderly individuals contracted the infection from contaminated food, it can spread to the central nervous system, causing meningitis and/or septicaemia. SYMPTOMS OF LISTERIOSIS It comes with such symptoms as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. Infected pregnant women may have no symptoms or experience only a mild flu-like illness. Still, infection during pregnancy can lead to premature labour, meningitis in the newborn or even miscarriage. The FSAI added: "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. "The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days." If contracted, the dangerous bacteria can be treated with antibiotics, but even with treatment, infection can be severe and may result in death. FULL LIST OF ALL RECALLED PRODUCTS A FULL list of the recalled products. Tesco Irish Classics Cottage Pie with Peas & Carrots Dinner Beef Dinner Bacon & Cabbage Dinner Beef Stew Dinner Chicken Curry & Rice Beef Burger Dinner Classic Kitchen Chicken & Ham Dinner Chicken/Leek & White Wine Sauce Dinner Meals Made Easy Cottage Pie Beef Lasagne Chicken Curry Chicken & Pasta Bake Chicken & Broccoli Potato Bake Carbonara Pasta Bake Chicken Korma Finest Cottage Pie Mac & Triple Cheese Beef Lasagne Beef Bourguignon and Mash Spaghetti Bolognese Spaghetti Carbonara Chicken Korma with Fragrant Pilau Rice Chicken Tikka Masala with Fragrant Pilau Rice Chicken and Chorizo Paella Chicken, Bacon & Leek Pie Creamy Fish Pie Beef in Black Bean Sauce & Egg Rice Chicken Al Fredo with Linguine Chicken Parmigiano Chicken Breast in a Mushroom and Madeira Sauce Chicken Massaman with Jasmine Rice Irish Angus Beef Meatballs with Pappardelle Creamy Mashed Potato Potato Gratin Three Cheese Cauliflower Bake Goose Fat Irish Potatoes Rainbow Root Vegetables Salmon with Lemon & Dill Sauce Tesco (own brand) Mashed Potato Mashed Carrot & Parsnip Mashed Turnip Cauliflower Cheese Chicken Tikka with Pilau Rice Chicken Jalfrezi with Pilau Rice Chicken Korma with Pilau Rice Butter Chicken Masala with Pilau Rice Chinese Style Chicken Curry with Egg Rice Chicken & Black Bean with Egg Rice Chicken Chow Mein Sweet & Sour Chicken with Egg Rice Thai Green Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice Thai Red Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice Coconut Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice Tex Mex Chilli Beef Burrito Bowl Tex Mex Chicken Burrito Bowl Mashed Potato Carrot & Parsnip Mash Baby Potatoes with a Garlic & Herb Butter Supervalu Signature Taste Potato Mash Potato Gratin Supervalu (own brand) Beef Lasagne Cottage Pie Chicken Pasta Chicken Curry Chicken Arrabiata Ham & Mushroom Tagliatelle Spaghetti Bolognese Spaghetti Carbonara Mac & Cheese Freshly Prepared Irish Beef Dinner Chicken & Stuffing Dinner Salmon Dinner Burger Dinner Beef Lasagne Cottage Pie/Cheddar Crumb Carbonara Pasta Bake Chicken Curry & Rice Chicken Tikka & Rice Beef Chilli & Rice Mexican Bean Burrito Bowl Salmon Penne Pasta Teriyaki Beef Noodle Bowl Slow Cooked Beef Ragu with Pappardelle Beef Lasagne Cottage Pie Chicken With Black Bean & Egg rice Chicken with White Wine sauce Chorizo Mac & Cheese Korean style chicken with noodles Chicken Laksa Carrots & Peas Green Cabbage Irish Rooster Mash Mashed Turnip Roasted Baby Potatoes Roasted Carrots with Black Pepper & Sea Salt Centra Centra (own brand) Beef Lasagne Cottage Pie Chicken Pasta Chicken Curry Chicken Arrabiata Ham & Mushroom Tagliatelle Spaghetti Bolognese Freshly Prepared Irish Beef Dinner Chicken & Stuffing Dinner Salmon Dinner Burger Dinner Beef Lasagne Cottage Pie/Cheddar Crumb Carbonara Pasta Bake Chicken Curry & Rice Chicken Tikka & Rice Centra FP Mexican Bean Burrito Bowl 450g x 6 Teriyaki Beef Noodle Bowl Slow Cooked Beef Ragu with Pappardelle Chicken With Black Bean & Egg rice Chicken with White Wine sauce Chorizo Mac & Cheese Korean Style Chicken with Noodles Chicken Laksa Centra FP Chicken Massaman with Sticky Jasmine Rice Supervalu & Centra Kitchen Beef Lasagne Fuel'd Foods Chicken Curry with Brown Rice Wholemeal Pasta Bolognese Chicken Tikka Masala with Brown Rice Tomato Chicken & Wholemeal Pasta Chicken & Chorizo with Baby Potatoes Clean Cut Beef Stroganoff Chicken Carbonara Chicken Curry Spaghetti Bolognese Chicken Spice Bag Thai Green Curry Chow Mein Chicken Chorizo Pasta Veggie Bolognese Beef Taco Wedges Butter Chicken Cottage Pie Happy Pear Veggie Lasagne Shepherdless Pie Cannelloni Chickpea Curry Tasty Thai Noodles Sticky Soy Noodles Mexican Bean Burrito Bowl Spinach & Mushroom Pasta Food To Go Beef Lasagne Chicken Curry Beef Casserole Chilli Beef Chicken Tikka Chicken Pasta Bake Beef Stroganoff Carbonara Pasta Bake Bolognese with Pancetta Mash Potato Potato Gratin Basmati Rice Roasted Baby Potatoes Roast Root Veg Green Cabbage Baton Carrots Carrots & Peas Mash Turnip Potato Wedges Pilau Rice Aldi Specially Selected Spaghetti Bolognese Ham & Mushroom Tagliatelle Inspired Cuisine Irish Cottage Pie Rustic & Hearty Beef Lasagne Chip Shop Chicken Curry Chicken & Broccoli Bake Rustic & Hearty Bolognese Pasta Bake Rustic & Hearty Chicken & Tomato Pasta Bake Seafood Pie Chicken Pie Various Retailers From the Farm Chicken Curry Beef Lasagne Basmati Rice Chilli Beef The Happy Pear Shepherdless Pie Creamy Veggie Lasagne Chickpea Curry Good Food Locally Sourced Turkey & Ham Dinner Chicken & Stuffing Dinner Spaghetti Carbonara Chicken Arrabiata Spaghetti Bolognese Beef Dinner Clean Cut Beef Stroganoff with Long Grain Rice Chicken & Chorizo Paella with Arborio Rice Chicken Carbonara with Tagliatelle Pasta Chicken Curry with Long Grain Rice Spaghetti Bolognese with Irish Beef Chicken Spice Box with Sweet Potato Thai Green Curry with Coconut Basmati Rice Turkey Meatballs & Spaghetti
Irish Post
17 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Post
Investigation launched after listeriosis death following 'extensive outbreak'
ONE person has died following an 'extensive outbreak' of a bacterial infection in Ireland. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FASI) said it is investigating the outbreak and has so far identified nine cases of listeriosis. "The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been notified of and is investigating the death of an adult with confirmed listeriosis," said the FSAI. The news comes as the FSAI issued a recall notice for more than 200 products over the possible presence of the bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes. The FSAI said the various branded prepared meals and side dishes have been produced by Ballymaguire Foods. The products include various branded ranges produced by the company for retailers including Tesco, Supervalu, Centra and Aldi. A full list of implicated products is available here. "A National Outbreak Control Team is currently investigating an extensive outbreak of listeriosis," said the FSAI. "A voluntary precautionary food recall of ready-to-heat meals is underway due to a link with the outbreak." 'Sincerely apologise' In a statement, Ballymaguire Foods said it had initiated 'a full precautionary recall of all products produced at one of our facilities following the identification of listeria bacteria as part of a quality control check'. "Immediately upon identifying the issue, we informed our retail and foodservice customers and engaged with all relevant authorities, including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), the Health Service Executive (HSE), and our regional Environmental Health Officer," it added. "Through our retail partners, all products are being withdrawn from the shelves, and a full consumer communication process is underway." The company added that it had conducted a comprehensive assessment and implemented immediate corrective actions, including a full pharmaceutical-grade clean down of the facility. "We sincerely apologise to our customers and consumers for the concern this may cause," it added. The FSAI say symptoms of listeriosis 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," it added. "Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly." See More: Ballymaguire Foods, FSAI, HSE, Listeriosis
RTÉ News
21 hours ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Adult dies with listeriosis as FSAI investigate extensive outbreak
An adult has died with a confirmed case of the bacterial infection listeriosis, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has confirmed. The FSAI said a National Outbreak Control Team is investigating an extensive outbreak of listeriosis linked to a precautionary food recall of ready-to-heat meals. It said nine confirmed cases of listeriosis had been identified as of yesterday. The HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre is investigating the death and to ensure medical confidentiality no further information on the person who died can be disclosed. This follows a food safety recall of ready meals by the FSAI due to fears of the harmful bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. Products from Tesco Finest, The Happy Pear, SuperValu Signature Taste, and Centra Freshly Prepared are among a range of ready meals included in the recall. The various branded prepared meals and side dishes are produced by Ballymaguire Foods and are sold in most major supermarkets - including Aldi, Centra, SuperValu, and Tesco - and are branded under the names of its customers. The affected products include pre-made meals such as cottage pie, chicken curry, lasagna, as well as various vegetarian dishes. While the side dishes covered by the recall include mashed potato, potato gratin, green cabbage, and mashed turnip. Aldi's Specially Selected range is also among the affected products. Consumers are advised not to eat any of the more than 140 affected products. Consumers are also advised to check their freezers for the implicated products and dispose of them. In a statement to RTÉ News, Ballymaguire Foods said it initiated a "full precautionary recall of all products produced at one of our facilities following the identification of listeria bacteria as part of a quality control check". The company apologised to customers and said that "incidents of this nature are extremely rare for us" and that it is "treating it with the utmost seriousness and are working closely with all parties to manage the situation swiftly and responsibly". It said: "Immediately upon identifying the issue, we informed our retail and food-service customers and engaged with all relevant authorities, including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the Health Service Executive, and our regional Environmental Health Officer. "Through our retail partners, all products are being withdrawn from the shelves, and a full consumer communication process is under way." As a precautionary measure Ballymaguire Foods said that on Saturday it made the decision to temporarily suspend all production at the affected facility, and that a comprehensive assessment and immediate corrective actions were carried out, including a full pharmaceutical-grade clean down of the facility. It said production will resume at the facility once it is confirmed safe to do so. 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 three weeks but can range between three to 70 days.
Irish Independent
10-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Iconic Clare ice cream spot served with closure order after rodent droppings were found near cones wafers
Doolin Ice Cream in Fisher Street, Doolin, Clare, was one of the eight premises that were served a Closure Order by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) this June. The closed area was the food store, located in the yard. The order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998, on June 25 and was then lifted on June 30. The FSAI report explains a 'significant number' of rodent droppings were found in the food store area. 'The droppings were noted in a box containing lids for smoothie cups. The plastic wrapping covering the lids was damaged due to gnawing by rodents and droppings were noted within the plastic wrapping on the lids. 'Rodent droppings were noted on a shelf behind bottles of and droppings were found on a shelf located directly beside boxes of cone wafers. A significant number of droppings were noted on a corner shelf and on the floor beside an ice cream freezer. 'The absence of rodent proofing of the food business as evidenced by the sliding doors leading into the food store were open and unattended at the time of the visit.' Inspectors also noted a build-up of building rubble and miscellaneous items was noted in the old shed in the yard: 'This area could be potential harbourage for rodents and should be removed.' Inspectors concluded: 'A grave and immediate danger to food safety exists in the food premises due to rodent activity and lack of cleaning. Rodents can transmit harmful pathogen to foodstuffs, food contact materials, food contact surfaces, equipment and packaging through their droppings and urine.' Under the FSAI Act, 1998, a Closure Order is served where it is deemed that there is or there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at or in the premises; or where an Improvement Order is not complied with. Closure Orders can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities.
Extra.ie
10-07-2025
- Health
- Extra.ie
Crèche and canteen shut at RTÉ as rodent droppings found
RTÉ's crèche was ordered to close its kitchen and canteen due to a 'significant number of rodent droppings'. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reported yesterday that eight closure orders were issued last month. Among these was Wee Care Limited at Donnybrook, a facility provided by RTÉ that cares for children of staff working at the broadcaster. An inspection by the FSAI on June 25 found the kitchen on the premises had failed to comply with the provisions of EC Regulation on the Hygiene of Foodstuffs. Pic: Shutterstock Following this, the crèche was ordered by the FSAI to close its kitchen and the canteen used by staff on the premises due to what the inspector called 'a grave and immediate danger to food safety due to rodent activity'. The inspection found that droppings were present on the floor behind and under two fridges, a freezer and an oven. It also discovered more droppings behind and underneath a fridge in a canteen area. The inspector wrote that 'a lack of cleaning is evident in the premises', saying: 'Rodent droppings have not been cleaned up and the affected areas have not been disinfected.' The inspection further found that 'adequate procedures are not in place to control pests in the premises'. The national broadcaster has spent €5,400 on pest checks and inspections over the past 12 months in its sprawling Dublin 4 complex. Pic: Fran Veale The closure order was lifted two days later after pest control was contacted to address the problems found in the initial inspection. A staff member at RTÉ told 'It shouldn't be too much to ask for our kids to be protected from rat droppings. It should be the bare minimum.' They went on to say the broadcaster needs to take responsibility, saying they 'should be doing more to reassure us as parents instead of washing their hands of it and point the finger at the contractors who run it'. The inspector who visited the crèche warned that 'rodents can transmit harmful pathogens to foodstuffs, food contact surfaces, equipment and packaging through droppings and urine'. The closure comes during an ongoing battle against rodents at RTÉ headquarters. Pic: Getty Images It was reported in early June that RTÉ had spent €5,400 on checks and inspections over the past year to ensure the campus was vermin-free. Last December, it came to light that after the sighting of a mouse at the Wee Care crèche, extermination services had been called to deal with the issue. This process proved unsuccessful after it was reported in February that mouse droppings had been found in the kitchen of the crèche. That same day, a dead mouse was removed from the second floor of the main RTÉ building. This was followed by reports of rats and mice sighted in the main canteen, the wardrobe department and on the set of Fair City. Two Radar mouse traps were bought as a precaution, and RTÉ later said that it had an ongoing contract for areas where rodent activity was suspected. FSAI chief Greg Dempsey said: 'Food safety isn't optional, it's essential. Non-compliance with food law is not tolerated.' Closure orders were issued to Doolin Ice Cream in Co. Clare, All Bar Chicken in Coolock, Co. Dublin, and Il Vicolo in Galway.
