Supermarket recalls chicken products over ‘diarrhoea and meningitis’ fears
Three Spar chicken products have been recalled over a deadly bacteria that has been found in them.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said Spar Enjoy Local Cooked Chicken Pieces and Spar Enjoy Local Cooked Chicken Slices, both 150g with a use-by date of May 21, 2025, have been recalled.
Spar Enjoy Local Cooked Chicken Fillets 300g with the same use-by date have also been recalled.
Each product’s batch number is 5126.
The products contain a bacterium known as Listeria monocytogenes, which can lead to serious health complications.
The FSA said: ‘Spar is recalling several chicken products because Listeria monocytogenes has been found in the products.
‘If you have bought the above products, do not eat them.
‘Instead, return the products to where they were bought for a full refund.’
‘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,’ the agency added.
‘However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis.’
People over 65, pregnant women and children are at an increased risk of falling ill from the deadly bacteria.
What are product recalls and withdrawals?
When there is a problem with a food product, it means it should not be sold.
It can either be withdrawn (taken off the shelves) or recalled (when customers are asked to return the product).
In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued, which provides local authorities with details of specific action to be taken on behalf of consumers.
Recent examples of other food recalls
ASDA customers were warned not to eat its Hot & Spicy Chicken Breast Slices packaged after it included the wrong use-by date.
Morrisons urgently recalled its 400g packs of Morrisons The Best Thick Cumberland Sausages with a ‘use by’ date of May 1 over fears it ‘may contain small pieces of blue plastic’.
While an Italian ready meal brand recalled its beef lasagne earlier this month for being made of lobster and prawn.
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