Tesco has issued an urgent recall for a chilled salad product over possible E. coli contamination, warning shoppers not to eat it and advising anyone with symptoms to self-isolate for 48 hours.
The alert, shared with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), concerns the Tesco Finest Mozzarella Pearls & Pesto Orzo Salad. The 215g pack with best before dates of 25, 26 and 27 August 2026 may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).
What shoppers should do
Tesco has advised customers to return affected packs to any store for a full refund, with no proof of purchase or receipt required. The supermarket has also issued recall notices explaining why the product is being recalled and what to do if they have bought it.
Tesco said in its recall notice: "Tesco is recalling specific date codes of its Finest Mozzarella Pearls & Pesto Orzo Salad 215, due to the possible presence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), which, if consumed, can cause illness."
Health risks and symptoms
The FSA alert warns that symptoms of E. coli (STEC) include severe diarrhoea with or without blood in the stool, abdominal pain, vomiting and dehydration. The infection can also lead to haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal.
Anyone experiencing symptoms has been urged to "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".
Other affected products
Tesco is not the only supermarket to issue a recall due to E. coli concerns. Summit Foods also warned that various filled wraps may be contaminated with the same bacteria.
Four wraps were affected: the Snacksters Chicken Fajita Wrap, the Snacksters Hoi Sin Wrap, the East Street Deli Sweet Chilli Chicken Wrap and the Target a Snack Chicken Fajita Wrap. All items with use-by dates up to and including September 5, 2026, are affected. Shoppers who purchased the affected wraps were also warned not to eat them and to return them to where they were bought from for a refund.
