The problem of rising levels of listeria in the UK was reinforced last Friday when the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Health Protection Agency (HPA) warned consumers in London and the south east of England about sandwiches contaminated with the pathogen.
The FSA and HPA issued a warning late on Friday March 16 about contamination of sandwiches supplied by Kent-based Anchor Catering, with use by dates between February 21 and March 14, to a range of catering establishments. Outlets supplied included schools, hospitals and local authorities.
The problem was identified by Ashford Borough Council after a very small number of samples tested positive for listeria during routine sampling. While the risk of listeria infection from eating these sandwiches was very low, said the FSA and HPA, they warned that vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, the elderly and those with lowered immunity were more at risk.
On discovery of the contamination, Anchor Catering voluntarily suspended production and informed the FSA that it had contacted the establishments supplied with sandwiches, calling on them to withdraw them from sale. The FSA and local authority are working with the company to identify the source of the contamination and production at the factory remains suspended.
The latest outbreak follows a report submitted to the FSA’s Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) late last year, which highlighted a rising incidence of listeria in parts of the UK and a lack of resources within the HPA to conduct the necessary surveillance work required.
The HPA will be providing an update on levels of listeria in the UK to the ACMSF in June.