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Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Times
What is listeriosis and what are the symptoms? All you need to know about the infection linked to recall across Ireland
Listeriosis is in the news after an adult in Ireland died with the rare bacterial infection . The HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre is investigating the death, which was announced as the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed an inquiry into an outbreak of nine cases. The FSAI said there had been a 'voluntary precautionary recall' of 141 ready-made products 'due to a link with the outbreak'. The recalled products, produced by Ballymaguire Foods, are sold by Tesco , SuperValu , Centra and Aldi , among other outlets. The affected meals include chicken curries, lasagnes, bolognaises, pasta bakes, cottage pies and chow meins. Affected side dishes include ready-made mashed potatoes, carrots and peas, green cabbage and pilau rice. READ MORE What causes listeriosis? Listeriosis is usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium listeria monocytogenes. Listeria can contaminate a wide range of foods, but most infections are caused by eating chilled, ready-to-eat foods. What are the symptoms of listeriosis? In most people, listeriosis has no symptoms or only causes mild symptoms for a few days such as high temperature, muscle or joint pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. However, if listeria spreads beyond the digestive system and becomes invasive, additional severe symptoms such as confusion, stiff neck, loss of balance or seizures may occur. A listeria monocytogenes bacterium, responsible for the food-borne illness listeriosis, under the microscope. Photograph: Elizabeth White/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via The New York Times How long after Listeria exposure could you get sick? The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) ranges between three and 70 days. The average incubation period is three weeks after eating contaminated food. How serious is an infection with listeria? Listeriosis is not usually serious for most people. But some have a higher risk of serious problems, including those aged 65 and older, people with a condition that weakens their immune system and anyone who is pregnant. If you are having treatment that weakens your immune system, such as chemotherapy, you may be at higher risk of getting seriously ill with listeriosis. What are the complications of listeriosis? If listeria spreads beyond your digestive system to other parts of the body, this can cause serious complications including inflammation of the heart, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, pneumonia, sepsis, and miscarriage or preterm birth. How is listeriosis treated? For most people listeriosis is mild and gets better with rest and fluids. If you are at higher risk of a more serious infection, then antibiotics may be prescribed. How does Listeria get into food? Listeria monocytogenes is found in soil and water. Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertiliser. Animals can carry the bacterium and meat or dairy products from these animals can be contaminated. Foods may also be contaminated after processing. The foods most often associated with listeriosis are ready-to-eat refrigerated and processed foods such as cooked and chilled meals, soft cheeses and smoked fish The foods most often associated with infection are ready-to-eat refrigerated and processed foods such as pre-prepared cooked and chilled meals, soft cheeses, cold cuts of meat, pâtés and smoked fish. How can I avoid listeriosis? There are some simple things you can do to reduce your risk of getting listeriosis including keeping chilled, ready-to-eat foods cold by ensuring your fridge is working properly and is set to 5 degrees or below. You should consume ready-to-eat foods within four hours of taking them out of the fridge; eat, cook or freeze foods by their use-by date; and follow storage instructions on food labels. Consumers should also keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate; follow any cooking instructions on packaging, and make sure food is cooked through to the middle; wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after contact with uncooked food.
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Listeria outbreak: Full list of 141 ready meal products recalled from Irish supermarkets including Tesco, Supervalu, Centra and Aldi
Irish Independent Newsdesk Consumers are being urged to check their freezers for ready meals after an outbreak of listeria that has led to the death of one person. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has issued a huge recall of 141 ready meal and side dishes made by Ballymaguire Foods in north Dublin and sold nationwide in supermarkets including Tesco, Supervalu, Centra and Aldi. Brands affected include SuperValu's Signature Taste, Freshly Prepared and SuperValu ranges; Tesco's Irish Classics, Meals Made Easy and Finest ranges; and Centra's Centra and Freshly Prepared ranges. It also affects some Kitchen, Fuel'd Foods, Clean Cut, Happy Pear, and Food To Go products. Here is the full list of 141 products that should not be eaten:
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
ieExplains: What is listeriosis, the infection linked to the recall of ready-made meals
An adult has died with a confirmed case of the rare bacterial infection listeriosis after a massive recall of ready-made meals earlier this week. Health officials are investigating an 'extensive outbreak' linked to the recall of supermarket ready meals, which were sold at retailers including Tesco, SuperValu, Aldi and Centra. Nine cases have so far been linked to the outbreak, which prompted concerns over more than 140 ready meal products sold across the country. Affected meals include pasta bakes, curries, turkey and ham dinners, pasta bolognese and beef stroganoff. The FSAI issued the recall notice this week on branded ready-made meals and side dishes produced by the Dublin-based Ballymaguire Foods due to the possible presence of listeria monocytogenes. The full list of implicated products can be found here. But what is listeriosis? Here's what you need to know. What is listeriosis? Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. According to the HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), it is usually acquired by eating food contaminated with this bacterium. Listeriosis is a notifiable disease in Ireland. This means medical practitioners are required to notify health officials when there is a case of listeriosis. The notification of case is used to investigate and to prevent the spread of infection and further cases. How is listeriosis contracted? Infection occurs mainly through eating contaminated food. The incubation period ranges between three and 70 days, but the average incubation period is three weeks. If a woman eats contaminated food during pregnancy, the infection can also be passed across the placenta to the baby. Who is at greater risk? Anyone can become ill from eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, although the disease affects primarily the following groups of people: Pregnant women and their unborn children Newborns Adults with weakened immune systems The elderly How does it get into my food? Listeriosis is widespread in the environment and can be found in soil and water. The HPSC says vegetables "can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer". "Animals can carry the bacterium without appearing ill, and meat or dairy products from these animals can be contaminated." Some foods, such as cheese, may also be contaminated after processing. Ready meals and listeriosis The HPSC says the foods most often associated with infection are ready-to-eat refrigerated and processed foods. These include: pre-prepared cooked and chilled meals, soft cheeses, cold cuts of meat, pâtés and smoked fish. Increasingly, outbreaks of listeriosis associated with fresh produce (particularly fresh vegetables that undergo little or no heat treatment) are being reported, the HPSC says. What are the symptoms of listeriosis? Listeriosis in a healthy adult can cause a mild flu-like illness. However, in immunocompromised and elderly individuals, it can occasionally spread to the central nervous system and cause meningitis and/or septicaemia. Symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance or convulsions may also occur. Infected pregnant women may have no symptoms or experience only a mild flu-like illness. But infection during pregnancy can lead to premature labour, meningitis in the newborn, or even miscarriage. How is it diagnosed? Diagnosis is usually made via a blood test. During pregnancy, a blood test is the most reliable way to find out if symptoms are due to listeriosis. How is it treated? Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics. However, even with treatment, infection can be severe and may result in death, especially in the elderly. How can I protect myself from listeriosis? The HPSC says protecting yourself against listeriosis is particularly important for those who are most at risk: pregnant women, infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. It has listed a host of measures that will help to reduce your risk of 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 left-over 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 or foods made from raw milk, soft or mould-ripened cheeses (e.g. feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses), pâté and smoked salmon; If contact with ewes at lambing time is unavoidable for pregnant women, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems, washing of hands after handling animals should reduce any possibility of infection. Read More Adult dies with listeriosis as nine cases linked to recall of ready meals
Extra.ie
6 hours ago
- Health
- Extra.ie
Everything we know so far as one adult dead after listeriosis outbreak
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. 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/ 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 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'.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork man accused of violent disorder in supermarket failed to attend court due to ingrown toenail
An ingrown toenail was given as the explanation on Tuesday for the absence of a 21-year-old man from Cork District Court to face a charge of engaging with others in a violent disorder against a background of feuding families. The case against 21-year-old Michael Faulkner, of 8 Curraheen Close, Bishopstown, Cork, was called at Cork District Court, but the defendant was not present. His solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said: 'He is suffering from an ingrown toenail. It is reducing his speed in getting here.' Judge Mary Dorgan said: 'An ingrown toenail does not excuse you not arriving at the door of Anglesea Street courthouse at 10.30am.' Sergeant John Kelleher said directions were not yet available from the Director of Public Prosecutions in the case, and applied for an adjournment of the case until October 14. Judge Dorgan agreed to adjourn the case until then in the absence of the accused. Some 15 minutes later, Mr Cuddigan brought to the attention of Judge Dorgan that Mr Faulkner did get to the courthouse and was present. He was informed of the adjournment. Michael Faulkner is one of several defendants charged with engaging with others in a violent disorder at SuperValu, Hollyhill, on January 6. Detective Garda Aidan Forrest previously gave evidence of the incident on the afternoon of January 6 at Hollyhill shopping centre, where 15 people — three from the O'Brien's and 12 from the Faulkner's — were allegedly involved. One man allegedly got out of a Ford Tipper Truck with a baseball bat and ran towards the supermarket. A number of parties ran around the car park before following one man into SuperValu. In an altercation between two of the men inside the store, they were seen running down one of the aisles, one of them swinging a pickaxe handle at the other, who hid behind the counter/till area, Det Garda Forrest said.
