The Food Standards Agency has issued an urgent Salmonella recall for several pre-packaged fruit items sold in major UK supermarkets,
An urgent recall has been issued for apples and kiwi fruit sold in supermarkets across Britain after fears they may be tainted with Salmonella.
The warning was issued on Tuesday by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which confirmed that fruit supplier PrepWorld had pulled several pre-packaged fruit products from major supermarkets following tests that detected Salmonella in apples and kiwi used in the items.
The affected products include ready-to-eat fruit pots and snack packs stocked at ASDA, Morrisons, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.
All items involved carry best-before or use-by dates of 23 or 24 June.
At ASDA, the sole affected product is a 220g Pink Lady Apple, Mango, Strawberry & Blueberry fruit pot priced at £2.75, reports the Express.
Morrisons has recalled one product, a 220g Kiwi, Melon & Strawberries pack priced at £2.50 with a use-by date of 24 June.
Tesco has the highest number of affected items, with four products pulled from shelves. These comprise its 250g Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry pots (use-by 24 June, £2.50), 100g Kiwi Fruit Pot (£1.50), 290g Fruit Kebabs containing kiwi, watermelon, mango and pineapple chunks (£4.10), and 125g Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry packs (£1.50).
Sainsbury’s and M&S each have three recalled products.
At Sainsbury’s, the affected items include 220g Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry pots, Orange & Kiwi 240g packs, and Pink Lady Apple & Grape 240g packs, all carrying a use-by date of 23 June, according to the Daily Mail.
M&S has recalled three apple-based products: 90g Café Pink Lady Apple slices, 90g (FTG) Pink Lady Apple packs, and 225g Pink Lady Apple Slices, all with a use-by date of 24 June.
Waitrose has also pulled its 115g Pink Lady Apple and Grapes packs from shelves, which carry a best-before date of 23 June.
In its statement, the FSA said: “Prepworld is recalling the above products. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products.
“These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the products. Please see the attached notices.”
Salmonella ranks amongst the most common causes of food poisoning across the globe, with symptoms including fever, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
While it is most frequently associated with raw or undercooked meat, poultry and eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables can equally serve as a source of contamination.
According to FSA guidance, young children, those aged 65 and over, and individuals with compromised immune systems face a greater risk of falling seriously ill.
The NHS advises that symptoms typically emerge within hours or days of eating contaminated food, though in certain cases they may take several weeks to develop.
Sufferers are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, alongside rest, paracetamol, and eating when possible.
The FSA has urged anyone who has purchased the affected products to refrain from consuming them. Instead, customers are urged to take them back to the shop where they were bought for a full refund.
The recall comes just a year after a similar alert was issued over Salmonella fears in a savoury snack stocked by Lidl.
The supermarket withdrew its Sol & Mar Chicharricos BBQ Pork Scratchings after possible contamination was detected.
The FSA cautioned at the time that the affected batches could trigger serious gastrointestinal symptoms, and shoppers were told to return them for a full refund with no receipt necessary.
