Urgent recall of sandwiches and wraps after ‘serious flu-like symptoms’ spark meningitis fears

A RANGE of sandwiches, wraps, baguettes and other chilled foods on sale across Britain have been recalled in a listeria health scare.

People who eat food contaminated with the bacteria can get a nasty illness called listeriosis, which can result in “serious complications such as meningitis” in rare cases.

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The manufacturer decided to take action when listeria monocytogenes were found in some of the products, according to an alert by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Signs will be placed in shops where the items are sold to warn people they should not be eaten.

According to the FSA notice, ready-to-eat foods made branded Bread Spread, Orbital Foods, and Perfect Bite and with a use-by date between 10/05/2024 and 18/05/2024 are “unsafe to eat.”

This includes sandwiches, wraps, baguettes, twists, torpedos and French sticks with a range of fillings.

The brands are typically sold in universities, colleges and independent convenience stores.

Anyone who has bought these products should return them for a full refund, with or without a receipt.

You can check your food’s best-before date and batch code on the sandwich or wrap packaging.

WHAT IS LISTERIA?

Listeriosis is a rare food-borne illness and could be particularly deadly to people with weakened immune systems or those over 65.

Pregnant women and their unborn babies – as well as tots who are less than a month old – are also at risk of severe illness.

If you happen to eat food contaminated with listeria, the bacteria can at first cause symptoms resembling the flu.

Signs of infection include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea. 

The illness will usually go away on its own after a few days, helped along by rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

However, the FSA warned that “in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis”.

Meningitis is inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord. It can be very serious if not treated quickly.

The NHS said: “If you get listeriosis while you’re pregnant, there is a risk it could cause miscarriage or stillbirth.

“In babies and people with a weakened immune system, listeriosis can sometimes lead to serious and life-threatening problems such as sepsis or meningitis.”

If you think you have listeriosis and you’re at risk of severe illness, the NHS advises you to get an urgent appointment with a GP.

According to recent data released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 160 cases of the bug were reported in England and Wales in 2021.

Twenty-two people died after suffering from the nasty illness.

Rates were highest among people aged 80 years and over, while a fifth of all infections occurred in pregnant mums.

In 2021, three listeriosis outbreaks were investigated in England and Wales, including a national outbreak associated with smoked fish.