Urgent recall issued by major supermarket over deadly bacteria

Three chicken products have been urgently recalled from shops over fears they could be contaminated with potentially deadly bacteria. SPAR stores have recalled the items due to the possible presence of listeria and urged customers, “do not eat them”.

A notice issued by the Food Standards Agency said: “Symptoms caused by this organism can be similar to flu and include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea. However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis.”

Customers were warned that people who are aged over 65, pregnant women and their unborn babies, babies less than one month old, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to more severe illness.

The recall applies to the following products, which all have the batch code 5126 and a use-by date of May 21, 2025: SPAR Enjoy Local Cooked Chicken Pieces (150g), SPAR Enjoy Local Cooked Chicken Slices (150g), and SPAR Enjoy Local Cooked Chicken Fillets (300g).

Listeria can contaminate a wide range of foods, according to the NHS.

The most common culprits are chilled, ready-to-eat foods such as cold, cooked sliced meats or fish and cured meat or fish, cooked shellfish, and soft blue vein or mould-ripened cheeses such as camembert and brie.

Pâté, pre-prepared sandwiches and salads, pre-cut fruit (such as pre-packed melon slices), and unpasteurised milk are also common sources.

A similar recall notice was issued for packs of raclette cheese last week over listeria bacteria.

It applied to Le Superbe Raclette made by Castelli UK Ltd and sold in Tesco.

You can also contract listeriosis from someone else who has it, for example if they have not washed their hands, or from close contact with farm animals.