By Fionnuala Boyle
With the summer off to a scorcher in many corners of the world, many will be indulging in a fruit platter or fruit salad to cool them down. However, shoppers should think twice before buying one kind from the supermarket. US health authorities have urgently recalled 400 boxes of blueberries due to fears of bacterial contamination that can lead to vomiting, fever and diarrhoea. Approximately 12,000lbs of organic blueberries produced by Alma Pak International are affected across America, following routine testing by the company which tested positive for listeria. The recall is categorised as Class 1, the most serious level, indicating a likelihood that exposure to the product could result in severe adverse health effects or even death. Listeria can enter the body through the digestive tract and spread to other organs, causing inflammation throughout the body as the immune system responds . Typical symptoms include fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, and aches and pains. While these symptoms are usually mild, they can escalate to more serious illnesses in those who are particularly vulnerable, such as infants, the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems. In extreme cases, listeria poisoning can lead to life-threatening complications like meningitis and sepsis. The contaminated blueberries were reportedly shipped to a single customer in North Carolina, although the FDA did not specify whether that customer had distributed them further. This week, a similar recall was issued in the UK for scotch eggs feared to be contaminated with salmonella bacteria. The Compleat Food Group issued an urgent recall for two packs of the popular savoury snack from Wall’s after it was discovered they had been contaminated with salmonella. An alert posted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that products affected are Wall’s The Classic Scotch Egg (113g) and Wall’s 2 Classic Scotch Eggs (226g), both featuring a use-by date of July 2, 2025. When the Record checked online, the scotch eggs were previously listed as being sold at major supermarkets Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Iceland, although they look to be out of stock or unavailable. The Compleat Food Group has said that the presence of salmonella in these affected packs is an “isolated incident” and that “no other Wall’s products are affected.” Salmonella is a common bacteria that mainly affects the intestines. It can be contracted after consuming contaminated food or water, with the main causes being undercooked poultry, eggs, and unpasteurised milk. The main symptoms of infection typically include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. And just a few days ago, a chicken product sold by Aldi was recalled over concerns it may contain pieces of plastic. BM Foods Ltd is withdrawing its Chicken Cooked Meat Trimmings from sale due to the possible presence of plastic. This poses a choking hazard making the product unsafe to eat. The recall applies to 400g packs with the batch code 50328453, and has a use-by date of July 4, 2025. Customers are urged not to consume the product and to return it to any Aldi store for a full refund. The Food Standards Agency has issued the following warning: “If you have bought any of the above products do not consume them.”