A MAJOR supermarket has pulled pesto pots off shelves after salmonella was found in the products – with customers warned not to eat them.
Salmonella is a group of bacteria that causes food poisoning, so eating anything contaminated with bug can leave people with nasty symptoms like diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
Young children and people over the age of 65 are at greater risk of becoming severely ill with with food poisoning caused by salmonella.
A recall alert issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said Waitrose was recalling No1 Pesto alla Genovese because salmonella has been found in the products .
Products with a ‘use by’ date of September 26 are affected.
The major supermarket chain warned consumers who’ve bought the pasta sauce pots not to eat their contents, or risk getting food poisoning.
“Symptoms caused by salmonella usually include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps,” the FSA warned.
Instead, Waitrose advised customers to package the items up and return them to their local Waitrose and Partners branch for a full refund.
“We apologise that it has been necessary to recall this product and for the inconvenience caused,” the chain said in a point of sale notice to customers.
It comes shortly after five people were left in critical condition in a Paris hospital after eating pesto suspected to be contaminated with botulism.
They had all eaten wild garlic pesto from O’Ptits Oignons, a French artisanal brand.
The incident left French authorities racing to racing to locate 600 pots of the posh sauce before anyone else ate it.
Salmonella bacteria typically live in animal and human intestines and are shed through faeces.
In most cases, people become infected with the nasty bug through consuming contaminated water or food, according to the FSA.
Salmonella bacteria tend to be found in:
- Raw meat
- Under-cooked poultry, such as chicken or turkey
- Eggs
- Unpasteurised milk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says symptoms of salmonella food poisoning usually begin six hours to six days after consuming contaminated food.
They tend to last between four to seven days.
Most people will recover within that time period, with the help of rest and plenty of fluids to replenish those lost in trips to the loo.
But some people can get severely ill and may require antibiotics to stop their symptoms.
The CDC warns that those most risk of salmonella and developing a severe illness include:
- Children under 5 years old – they are the most likely to get a salmonella infection
- Babies younger than 12 months – they are more likely to get a salmonella infection
- Infants, adults aged 65 and older, and people with a weakened immune system are the most likely to have severe infections
- People taking certain medicines (for example, stomach acid reducers) are at increased risk of infection
What to do if you've bought the pesto
If you’ve bought the Waitrose No1 Pesto alla Genovese, here’s what you need to do:
- Do not consume
- Package up the item
- Return it to your local Waitrose branch for a refund
You can contact Waitrose customer service on 0800 188 884, option 4
Last week, the FSA urgently announced a mass recall of more than 50 foods they believed could be contaminated with peanuts not listed on the label.
Sold under several different brand names and across a range of stores, all the recalled dips, sandwiches and salads contain mustard powder, which may have traces of peanuts.
The FSA later issued a wider allergy alert urging Brits Brits with peanut allergies to avoid all mustard-containing products while they determined the source of the contamination.
Do I have food poisoning?
Food poisoning is rarely serious and usually gets better within a week.
It’s hard to miss the symptoms, which include:
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Diarrhoea
- Being sick (vomiting)
- Stomach cramps
- A high temperature of 38C or above
- Feeling generally unwell – such as feeling tired or having aches and chills
- The symptoms usually start within a few days of eating the food that caused the infection.
- Sometimes they start after a few hours or not for a few weeks
How to treat food poisoning
You can usually treat yourself or your child at home.
The symptoms usually pass within a week.
The most important thing is to have lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration.
You should also see a doctor if along with other symptoms you have high fever, blood in your stool, or feel dehydrated or unable to keep any food or liquid down.
Make sure you stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days.
Source: NHS
