Waitrose has pulled its Essential Unsweetened Oat Drink from shelves over fears it may be contaminated with harmful bacteria. The recall affects one-litre cartons with use-by dates between August 14 and October 29, which were purchased between September 2 and September 21.
Customers urged not to consume affected product
Customers who have bought the affected drink have been warned not to consume it because of the potential presence of microbiological contamination. The recall follows a breakdown in temperature control that raised concerns the product may not be safe to consume.
A notice issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the product should not be sold because it may pose a risk to consumers. Waitrose is displaying notices in its stores to alert customers to the recall and has apologised for the inconvenience caused.
Refund and contact details
Anyone who has an affected carton has been told to return it to their local Waitrose & Partners branch for a refund. Customers can also contact Waitrose Customer Care on 0800 188 884, selecting option four, for further information.
The warning comes after concerns that the product may have been stored at the wrong temperature. Food kept at an unsuitable temperature can allow potentially harmful bacteria to multiply, increasing the risk of food poisoning.
Food poisoning risks and recent recalls
Symptoms of food poisoning can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and a high temperature, with symptoms usually beginning within a few hours or days of eating or drinking contaminated produce. Bacteria including campylobacter, salmonella and E. coli can cause food poisoning.
Campylobacter is described as the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK, while salmonella and E. coli can also thrive in warm conditions. The FSA says recalls are issued when a product should not be sold because it may pose a risk to consumers.
The latest recall follows another recent Waitrose product withdrawal. Earlier this month, the supermarket pulled its Essential Pitted Black Olives from shelves over fears they could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a potentially deadly bacterium.
