Warning over supermarket pasta salads that may contain deadly listeria – bug can cause meningitis
Britons have been urged not to eat three supermarket pasta products over fears they may be contaminated with meningitis-causing bacteria.
Food producer Greencore said it is recalling packs of its ready-to-eat items sold in ASDA and Morrisons due to ‘possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes’.
Consuming the bacteria can trigger the infection listeriosis, which may lead to deadly complications like sepsis or meningitis.
The recall affects the 300g pack of ASDA’s Cheese & Tomato Pasta Salad with a use-by date of August 10 and product code of 5063089221990.
It also affects ASDA’s 500g Nacho Cheese Pasta Salad with a use-by date of August 9 and product code of 5063717198311.
Morrisons’ Chicken and Bacon Pasta in a 300g pack with a use-by date of August 7 and product code of 5010251790587 is included.
The Food Standards Agency said the recall is relevant to products sold in England, Scotland and Wales.
It added: ‘If you have bought the above product, do not eat it. Instead, return it to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund. You do not need your receipt.’
Affects the 300g pack of ASDA’s Cheese & Tomato Pasta Salad (stock image above) with a use-by date of August 10 and product code of 5063089221990
It also covers ASDA’s 500g Nacho Cheese Pasta Salad (stock image above) with a use-by date of August 9 and product code of 5063717198311
Morrisons’s Chicken and Bacon Pasta (stock image above) in a 300g pack with a use-by date of August 7 and product code of 5010251790587 is also included
The NHS says listeriosis is usually mild, with flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, diarrhoea and nausea.
However, it can make some people ‘seriously ill’.
It is most likely to be life-threatening among those with a weakened immune system.
This includes the elderly, pregnant women, newborn babies, and people with conditions like diabetes, cancer, or those receiving treatments like chemotherapy.
When the infection spreads to the bloodstream and brain it can trigger sepsis or meningitis.
The bacteria is usually killed during pasteurisation, meaning it is more commonly associated with raw dairy products as well as ready-to-eat foods such as deli meats, smoked fish and pre-packaged sandwiches.
Many foods can harbour the organism and contaminated produce may not look or smell spoiled.
The NHS say the bacteria can also contaminate cheeses like brie and camembert, pate and pre-cut fruit.
However, they stress: ‘These foods do not always contain listeria. If you have eaten them recently, you do not need to do anything unless you get symptoms of the infection.’
While less common, listeriosis can also be caught from someone else who is infected.
This is typically passed when consuming food they have handled, particularly if their hands are not clean.
Close contact with farm animals can also cause a spread.
UK Health Security Agency figures show 179 cases of listeriosis reported in England and Wales in 2024, with 28 deaths recorded among non-pregnancy-related cases.
