Twenty-five types of sandwiches, rolls and wraps been urgently recalled over fears they’re contaminated with listeria.
Safety regulators warned the lunch-time offerings made by Bread Spread were not manufactured ‘in accordance with food law requirements’.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) slapped a ‘do not eat’ label on all of the affected products.
More sandwiches could be pulled from shelves soon, officials said.
Some of the products are sold under the Orbital Foods and Perfect Bite brands.
A selection of sandwiches sold by Bread Spread. The Food Safety Authority (FSA) issued an urgent warning regarding all chilled and ready-to eat foods made by the company with a use-by date up to and including 18 May 2024
Bread Spread’s Southall headquarters. Traces of listeria, a bacterial which can cause serious illness, were found in products made by the West London firm
Traces of listeria, a bacterial which can cause serious illness, were found in products made by the West London firm.
The FSA warned the sandwiches were subject to additional ‘hygiene and traceability contraventions’ that made them unsafe to eat.
Bread Spread, which prides itself on being ‘environmentally responsible’, claims that it supplies universities, colleges and more than 1,000 independent retail stores.
FSA bosses said all chilled and ready foods made or manufactured by Bread Spread with a use-by-date up to and including 18 May were affected.
Listeria can cause an infection called listeriosis, which can cause symptoms similar to flu, like high temperature, muscle aches or pains, chills, nausea and vomiting and diarrhoea.
Most adults only experience a mild illness from infection.
In rare cases, it can cause meningitis a very serious infection of the membrane that protects the brain and spinal cord, potentially causing permanent damage.
The elderly, pregnant women as well their unborn children and those with weakened immune systems like chemo patients are particular vulnerable to falling ill.
Listeriosis is especially dangerous for people who are immunocompromised or have an underlying illness
Businesses should pull the affected products from shelves and dispose of them as well as issue recalls to customers, the FSA said.
Customers who have bought the products are advised to dispose of them.
The watchdog also warned that the situation was ‘developing’ and more products than those included in the notice could be affected.
Listeriosis cases are relatively rare in the UK with only 160 cases recorded on average each year.
This could be an underestimate however as many healthy adults may not seek help for symptoms.
Listeria is an unusual in terms of bacteria because it can grow refrigeration temperatures.
It typically enters food production via contaminated ingredients, either through vegetables that have been in contact with infected manure or from meat or dairy from infected animals.
Bread Spread has not issued a warning on its website about the FSA’s safety waring.
MailOnline attempted to contact Bread Spread for comment.
Source: Mail Online
