Greencore, a major sandwich supplier to supermarkets including Asda, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s, has recalled 45 products amid a UK E. coli outbreak that has seen cases nearly double to over 200. The recalled items, including sandwiches, wraps, and salads, are sold through those retailers as well as Boots, Aldi, Amazon, and the Co-op. The recall is linked to a specific variety of salad leaf identified by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Samworth Brothers, which supplies Tesco and its One Stop chain, has also recalled 15 products from its Manton Wood business for the same reason. The UKHSA reported on Friday that 98 new cases have been confirmed, bringing the total to 211 across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. At least 67 people have been hospitalised.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) stated that the recalls are a precautionary measure, as the affected batch of salad leaves has already been used. Darren Whitby, the FSA’s head of incidents, advised consumers not to eat the products and to return them for a full refund. The outbreak involves shiga toxin-producing E. coli (Stec), which can cause severe bloody diarrhoea and serious complications.
Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium emphasised that food safety is a top priority, and retailers are working closely with the FSA. Greencore confirmed it voluntarily recalled the items as a precaution and is cooperating with authorities to identify the source of the issue.
