An urgent recall has been issued after a number of popular fish products were found to pose a potential health risk to customers
A warning has been issued to shoppers – stock photo(Image: Getty)
An urgent warning has been issued to shoppers as a number of popular food products sold in Irish supermarkets were pulled from shelves over fears they could pose a serious health risk to customers.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is warning anyone who purchased the affected item to stop eating it immediately, and return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.
The recall affects specific batches K O’Connell Fishmongers Smoked Salmon Slices, which are sold in Cork’s famous English Market and in certain Dunnes Stores supermarkets.
The popular products are being pulled from shelves due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes, a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause serious health complications for some people.
The products being recalled are the O’Connell Fishmongers Smoked Salmon Slices; pack sizes: 100g, 150g & 320g, with a batch code of SS16726 and a use by date of 16/07/2026.
The above batch of K O’Connell Fishmongers Smoked Salmon Slices is being recalled due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes
The food safety watchdog said retailers have been requested to remove the implicated batch from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
Shoppers who may have purchased the fish products are being urged not to eat them and instead to return the items for a full refund. No receipt is required.
Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. It is usually acquired by eating food contaminated with this bacterium.
Listeria can contaminate a wide range of foods, but most infections are caused by eating chilled, ready-to-eat foods. Some foods are more likely to be tainted by the bacteria than others. These include soft cheeses, deli meats and dairy products that haven’t been treated to kill bacteria, called pasteurised.
An illustration of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. These gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria are human pathogens causing listeriosis
Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications.
In rare cases of more severe illness, Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can invade the blood stream (blood stream infection). The bacteria can also spread from the blood to the central nervous system causing meningitis.
Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average three weeks but can range between three and 70 days.
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