Major supermarkets, including Woolworths, Aldi and IGA, have issued an urgent recall on selected bags of frozen vegetables over fears they may have been contaminated by a deadly bacteria.
Supermarkets across Australia have begun recalling bags of frozen vegetables amid concerns of potential listeria contamination, following a warning from Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
Around 10 products have been recalled, including bags of own-brand Aldi vegetables and bags of Essentials snap frozen mixed vegetables and Bell Farms steam veggie carrot, corn and broccoli bags which are sold at Woolworths. Black and Gold branded frozen vegetables are also at risk and have been recalled across the country.
The foot standards agency have recommended that anyone in possession of any of the listed products dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
Belgium-based frozen food distributor Greenyard Frozen NV is conducting the recall of its products and UK supermarkets – Aldi, Lidl, Iceland, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose – have also removed various frozen vegetable products from their shelves due to concerns about possible listeria contamination.
FSANZ spokeswoman Lorraine Haase told the ABC there had not been any evidence of infections in Australia, but a number of people had died in the United Kingdom. She said: “This is a precautionary recall, to make sure people are aware and can remove products from their freezers.”
Listeria is a life-threatening illness for certain people, particularly those over the age of 60. Those who are over 70, have diabetes, cancer or even suppressed immune systems are most at risk, as well as pregnant women and their unborn babies.
Listeriosis starts with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, and sometimes diarrhoea.
Earlier this year six people sadly died, in New South Wales and Victoria, after consuming contaminated rockmelon, with the outbreak being traced back to Rombola Family Farms in the Riverina region. One woman also suffered a miscarriage which was confirmed as being linked to the outbreak.
To view the full list of recalled items, click here.