Tesco is recalling a salad pot that may be contaminated with a food poisoning bug. The supermarket is recalling Tesco Finest Mozzarella Pearls & Pesto Orzo Salad 215g, because of possible contamination with E. coli (STEC).
STEC stands for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. While most strains of E. coli are harmless bacteria living naturally in animal and human intestines, STEC strains produce potent toxins (called Shiga toxins) that damage the lining of the intestinal tract and cause severe foodborne illness.
Recall details and affected batches
The recall covers 215g packs with use-by dates of August 25, August 26 or August 27. Symptoms caused by STEC organisms include severe diarrhoea with or without blood in the stool, abdominal pain, vomiting, dehydration and sometimes 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.
Health risks and warning signs
About 5% to 10% of people diagnosed with STEC develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). The Shiga toxin enters the bloodstream and destroys red blood cells, which can clog the kidneys and lead to kidney failure. Children under 5 and older adults are at highest risk.
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) usually develops 5 to 10 days after the initial onset of STEC diarrhoea, often just as the bowel symptoms seem to be improving.
Key early warning signs include decreased urination, extreme fatigue and pallor, unexplained bruising or bleeding, swelling (edema), dark or tea-colored urine, and high blood pressure or confusion.
Customer advice and next steps
Tesco is recalling the product and has issued a recall notice to alert customers. The notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.
A Food Standards Agency spokesman said: "If you have bought the product do not eat it. Instead, return it to any Tesco store for a full refund. For further information, please visit Tesco's customer services at: tesco.com/help/contact."
