Gardeners have been warned not to grow or eat a specific type of seed due to fears of food poisoning. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has urged anyone with a certain packet of seeds not to grow them, as E. coli has been detected.
Product Recall Details
Rapunzel bioSnacky Das Original Red Clover Seeds for Sprouts and Seedlings has been recalled in England, Wales, and Scotland. The FSA explained that Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) has been found in the seeds.
The FSA said: "If you have bought the above product, do not grow it or consume the sprouts or seedlings. Instead, return it to where you bought it from for a full refund."
Symptoms and Health Risks
The FSA added: "Symptoms can include severe diarrhoea (including bloody diarrhoea), abdominal pain and occasionally haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal."
If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should stay away from work, school, or nursery until you have stopped having symptoms for at least 48 hours to avoid passing it on to others.
Recalled Product Information
The recalled product is Rapunzel bioSnacky Das Original Red Clover - Seeds for Sprouts and Seedlings, pack size 30g, batch code 11293, best before December 2028.
Rapunzel said: "If you have any bioSnacky Red Clover with the above-mentioned batch number at home, please return it to your local specialist shop or dispose of it. Any sprouts grown from it should also be disposed of. You will, of course, be refunded with the purchase price. Other bioSnacky products are not affected by this recall. We are very sorry for this incident and sincerely apologise."
Understanding E. coli
NHS Inform explained: "Escherichia coli (E. coli) are bacteria that are found in the environment, food, and the intestines of animals and people. Most types of E. coli are harmless and are an important part of a healthy digestive tract. However, some can make you unwell."
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are known to cause more severe illness than E. coli that doesn’t produce Shiga toxin. Symptoms usually take between two and four days to develop, but can start anytime between one and 14 days afterwards. They include diarrhoea, stomach pain, vomiting, fever, and bloody diarrhoea. Most people get better within five to seven days, but it can last up to two weeks.
NHS Inform added: "A small number of people, mainly children, with STEC infection go on to develop a serious life-threatening condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include peeing less, pink or brown urine, tiredness, swelling, and bruising. This can sometimes lead to kidney failure and death, although this is rare. The risk of HUS is highest in children aged under 5 years."
Prevention and Advice
STEC infections can come from contaminated food, unpasteurised dairy products, contaminated water, contact with animals, or contact with an infected person. Anyone with an STEC infection should stay away from work or school until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.
