The Food Standards Agency issued a Tuesday alert after PrepWorld recalled several pre-packaged fruit items sold in major supermarkets under a major supermarkets recall prepackaged fruit products over salmonella contamination fears. Testing found Salmonella in apples and kiwi used in the products.
The recall covers ready-to-eat fruit pots and snack packs sold in ASDA, Morrisons, M&S, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose. All of the affected products carry best-before or use-by dates of 23 June or 24 June.
Tesco and Waitrose products
Tesco withdrew four products from shelves. They include a 250g Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry pot with a use-by date of 24 June and a price of £2.50, a 100g Kiwi Fruit Pot priced at £1.50, a 290g Fruit Kebabs pack containing kiwi, watermelon, mango and pineapple chunks priced at £4.10, and a 125g Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry pack priced at £1.50.
Waitrose pulled 115g Pink Lady Apple and Grapes packs with a best-before date of 23 June. ASDA's affected product is a 220g Pink Lady Apple, Mango, Strawberry & Blueberry fruit pot priced at £2.75. Morrisons pulled a 220g Kiwi, Melon & Strawberries pack priced at £2.50 with a use-by date of 24 June.
M&S and Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's recalled three products: 220g Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry pots, Orange & Kiwi 240g packs and Pink Lady Apple & Grape 240g packs, all with a use-by date of 23 June. M&S recalled three apple-based products: 90g Café Pink Lady Apple slices, 90g FTG Pink Lady Apple packs and 225g Pink Lady Apple Slices, all with a use-by date of 24 June.
The Food Standards Agency said point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores selling the products, and the notices explain why the items are being recalled and what to do if they were bought. Salmonella can cause fever, diarrhoea and stomach cramps, and the agency says fresh fruit and vegetables can also carry the bacteria.
Salmonella in fruit
That last point is the part shoppers may not expect. Fruit pots and snack packs are usually bought as ready-to-eat items, yet the recall shows the contamination issue can begin with ingredients before the finished packs reach store shelves.
For anyone who bought one of the listed products, the immediate step is to check the date and product name on the pack against the recall notice in store. The products with 23 June and 24 June dates are the ones removed, and the store notices are the instruction set for customers now.
