Mystery hepatitis outbreak linked to 'contaminated' supermarket product: 95 sickened and 58 hospitalised, officials reveal
Officials are investigating a surge in cases of a highly contagious liver infection they have linked to a contaminated supermarket food item.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified a wave of hepatitis A infections in Britain after 95 people were sickened with a serious liver infection, with 58 so ill they needed to be hospitalised.
Hepatitis A—which is caused by a virus spread by contaminated faeces making its way into food and drink—can be deadly but is usually uncommon in the UK.
Officials have now confirmed two separate clusters of the virus across Britain, with 53 cases having been reported since December 2024 alone in the latest wave.
Analysis of patient interviews has linked the outbreak to a specific food item purchased from an unnamed supermarket, which most patients reported consuming before falling ill.
Officials, who have not yet named the product, stated that it has 'emerged as a possible vehicle of transmission'.
According to a report, the first cluster saw 19 people hospitalised with the infection, with most patients aged 50 to 69.
The second cluster saw 39 cases needing hospital care due to the illness.
Overall, 95 cases have been reported across both waves of the infection.
Cases related to the first cluster of infections range from January 2021 to March 2025, with 23 cases having been reported since August 2024 in the first wave.
The latest wave struck in January 2023, with cases still being reported up until March this year.
No deaths linked to the outbreak have yet been reported.
Public Health Scotland are leading the ongoing investigation alongside UKHSA and said that the lack of international travel among patients and the repeated mention of certain food items is helping direct their inquiry.
Hepatitis A has few noticeable symptoms in its early stages and if left untreated can lead to liver failure and can even prove fatal.
Unlike the related conditions hepatitis B and C, Hepatitis A doesn't cause chronic liver disease, but can still lead to severe complications in some patients.
Signs of the infection include a high temperature, flu-like symptoms—such as fatigue, headache and muscle pains—feeling or being sick, abdominal pain, changes in bowel movements, pale grey coloured faeces and itchy skin.
These usually develop within two months of infection but in some cases can go undetected for longer.
In more severe cases, a patient's skin and eyes may appear yellow, a condition known as jaundice a serious sign the liver is struggling to function correctly.
But the NHS warns that most children, and some adults, may have no symptoms indicating they are infected.
Hepatitis A usually clears up on its own within three to six months, but doctors may prescribe medication to relieve symptoms.
Anyone who has not been vaccinated or previously infected is at a higher risk of catching the illness.
Good personal hygiene—including washing hand before meals and after using the bathroom—can help prevent the spread of the infection.
Patients diagnosed with Hepatitis A are advised not to drink alcohol, prepare food or drink for other people, have sex without a barrier method like a condom or share needles with others until they are no longer infectious.
This is usually around seven days after initial symptoms start, for those who do not have jaundice.
It comes as UK health chiefs reported an increase in the number of acute—sudden onset—hepatitis cases in children aged 10 and under.
Between January and May 2022, nearly 180 children fell ill with an unusual form of the liver disease.
Typically, only around 20 children will contract an unexplained case of hepatitis each year.
An outbreak in a school in Huddersfield in 2023 sparked a public health warning, after two children contracted Hepatitis A.
Pupils and staff were offered Hepatitis A vaccinations as a precautionary measure, despite the vaccination not being routinely offered in the UK because the risk of infection is so low.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
This 10-year plan may be the last chance to save the NHS
The 10-year plan for the National Health Service that Sir Keir Starmer is expected to publish in the next few days is likely to be a somewhat incoherent document. From the advance publicity, it would seem to have a lot of disconnected ideas in it, some good, some not so good and some irrelevant. The government hopes that weight-loss drugs will offer the hope of a big advance against obesity-related illnesses – but this comes after new figures raised concerns about their safety. If large language models can speed up the development of new pharmaceuticals, so much the better. But we remain sceptical about whether supermarkets ought to be recruited into policing their customers' calorie intakes. What will decide the success or failure of the NHS over the next decade, however, will be the design of the structural reforms to the service. Wes Streeting, the health and social care secretary, has made a good start in two respects. He has welcomed private-sector providers to help deliver NHS services free at the point of need, and he has taken an axe to the central bureaucracy of NHS England. The test for the 10-year plan will be the extent to which it brings in further changes to incentives throughout the NHS so that it becomes responsive to patients. Sir Jim Mackey, the new chief executive of the NHS, says many of the right things. 'It feels like we've built mechanisms to keep the public away because it's an inconvenience,' he says in his first interview since taking up the post three months ago. He says of the current NHS: 'It takes forever. It costs a fortune. We need to 'de-layer it' because it's expensive, it slows decision-making down, it de-powers people who need to make decisions.' The sentiment is right, but again, some of his ideas seem better than others. We are not convinced that using patient satisfaction surveys to decide how much money NHS trusts receive is going to work. The evidence of reform under the last Labour government was that the mere existence of competition from private-sector providers had a dramatic effect on the performance of NHS units. Already, there are the very early signs that the extra resources put into the NHS are bearing fruit, less than 12 months after the change of government. Luke Tryl, the opinion pollster for More in Common, reported on BBC's Newsnight on Friday that people in focus groups are starting to report positive experiences of the NHS for the first time since the pandemic. 'If there is a bright spot for the government, it's the NHS,' he said. One of the biggest challenges for Sir Jim and Mr Streeting, however, is more political than structural. They have to send the starkest message to doctors: please do not go on strike; take responsibility; show leadership; it is up to you to make the NHS work, because if it cannot be turned round this time, then it probably is the end of this model of healthcare. Sir Jim appears to understand this. He says that his 'big worry' is that if the NHS cannot deliver a service that is better at listening to patients – the particular example he gave was maternity care – 'we'll lose the population; if we lose the population, we've lost the NHS; for me, it's straightforward: the two things are completely dependent on each other.' He is absolutely right. Universal healthcare free at the point of need is a noble idea, but it desperately needs Labour's reforms to work if it is to survive.
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Carrie Johnson warns mothers about dehydration from hospital bed
Mrs Johnson, 37, whose fourth child with the former leader of the Conservative Party was born on May 21, said a two-night hospital stay was 'not on my postpartum bingo card'. Her warning came in a Instagram story alongside a photo of Mrs Johnson in hospital cradling baby Poppy Eliza Josephine. Britain is expected to experience another heatwave this weekend when temperatures could top 30C, with an amber heat health alert issued. Mrs Johnson wrote: 'Being hospitalised for two nights for severe dehydration was not on my postpartum bingo card.' She urged 'breastfeeding mums' to make sure they eat and drink enough, 'especially if your babe is clusterfeeding'. Advice on the NHS website tells new mothers to drink plenty of fluids and to have a drink beside them as the settle down to breastfeed. Water, lower fat milks, lower sugar or sugar-free drinks are all good choices. Mrs Johnson thanked everyone who has helped them get through a 'brutal' week. With an Amber Heat Health alert declared for the East Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London, it's worth watching out for those who might find it difficult to cope with high temperatures. ☀️ 🌡️ Check our blog post for handy tips: — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) June 27, 2025 She wrote: 'This week has honestly been brutal. 'Mastitis (me), reflux (her), dehydration (me). What a pair we are! 'But thank you for all the kind messages, especially all the brilliant advice on reflux. Really appreciate it and made me feel way less alone going thru it all. 'And as ever, thanks to our amazing NHS.' Her message comes as a second amber heat health alert in two weeks came into force on Friday. The alert, which covers London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England, will last until 6pm on Tuesday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued a yellow alert for Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands for the same time period, with the agency warning of significant impacts across health and social care services.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
From mushrooms to guarana – three products to help you prevent dehydration
AS I've signed up to this summer's Manchester Half marathon I'm going to be doing some (sweaty) training, so prioritising hydration is crucial. When we sweat we don't just lose water but vital minerals such as sodium, potassium and calcium too. Maintaining their balance is vital to prevent dehydration and electrolytes are key. I've put three – which also have added extras – to the test. PROTEIN ELLE Macpherson's company WelleCo has released The HydroProtein Elixir. In addition to 15g of pea protein per serving it has electrolytes (sodium, potassium and magnesium) for hydration, and a beauty blend (vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, niacin and biotin) for glowing skin. It's also got vitamin B5 for energy. The blackcurrant and pomegranate flavour had a refreshing sharpness. I love that this is a great mixture of ingredients and just 63 calories per serving. The HydroProtein Elixir, £35, MUSHROOMS FOURFIVE is a new firm founded by professional rugby players George Kruis and Dom Day. Their Hydro Hydration Energy and Focus drink contains five key electrolytes calcium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and sodium as well as lion's mane mushrooms and ginseng which help with energy, focus and mental clarity. This also has eight B vitamins and 76mg of caffeine which is about the same as a cup of instant coffee but also contains an amino acid called L-theanine which stops you feeling jittery after caffeine. The Hydro Energy and Focus powder is Red Berry flavour – which is delightful, not too sharp or sweet – and comes as a single, 7-pack or 30-pack sachets (5.5g) from about £1.10 a sachet. From Holland & Barrett or Nell McAndrew's marathon guide GUARANA MUCH more than just another energy drink, Phizz Daily Energy, features a specialised hydration formula and a high-strength, scientifically formulated B-vitamin complex. B-vitamins are important in helping your body convert food into energy, supporting everything from brain function to helping to reduce tiredness and fatigue. Plus, with a blend of caffeine and guarana extract, it provides 75mg of caffeine per tablet. Guarana berries contain three times more caffeine than coffee but it's released slowly, meaning Phizz Daily Energy provides sustained energy over time. They cost £7.99 for a tube of x 20 tablets. For more information, see
