A person has died after eating a contaminated ready meal sold at Tesco and Aldi in Ireland, prompting urgent recalls by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. The death is one of several cases of listeriosis, a serious infection caused by the listeria bacteria.
The affected products were supplied by Ballymaguire Foods, whose ready meals are stocked in both supermarket chains across Ireland. Dozens of dishes have been pulled from shelves as a precautionary measure.
Listeriosis symptoms include nausea, diarrhoea, muscle aches, fever, and chills. The NHS advises that if symptoms persist beyond a few days, individuals should seek urgent medical attention. Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems, are at higher risk of severe illness.
This incident follows an earlier outbreak linked to chocolate desserts supplied to NHS hospitals, which resulted in three deaths earlier this year. The Food Standards Agency has recalled all chilled desserts from the implicated supplier as a precaution.
Health authorities recommend maintaining good hand hygiene to reduce the risk of infection. The UK Health Security Agency continues to monitor the situation.
