Sainsbury's has recalled two varieties of its own-brand hummus over concerns they may contain a deadly strain of E. coli. The affected products are the 315g containers of JS Classic Houmous with a use-by date of 13 September, and the 200g tubs of JS Lemon & Coriander Houmous with a use-by date of 14 September.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the batches could contain shiga toxin-producing E. coli (Stec), and the items have been recalled as a precaution. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all stores selling the products until 3 October, explaining the recall and advising customers what to do if they have already purchased them.
Sainsbury's has apologised for any inconvenience and advised customers not to eat the affected products. They can be returned to any Sainsbury's branch for a full refund.
Symptoms of Stec infection include diarrhoea (with bleeding in half of cases), fever and abdominal pain. The illness is usually self-limiting, lasting up to two weeks. However, a small proportion of patients, mainly children, may develop life-threatening haemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure. A similar condition, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, may also occur in a small number of adults.
The UK Health Security Agency reported 2,544 cases of Stec infection in England in 2024, a 26% rise compared with the previous year. The FSA notes that Stec bacteria are most prevalent in cattle in the UK but have also been found in the faeces of deer, rabbits, horses, pigs and wild birds. The strain is particularly infectious, as very few bacteria are needed to cause illness, allowing it to spread easily in families and settings such as hospitals and schools.
