One dead as 9 people struck down with killer infection after eating ready meals sold in Tesco and Aldi

Scottish Sun

24-07-2025

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A PERSON has died after contracting a rare bacterial infection, health bosses have confirmed.
The adult was among nine confirmed cases of listeriosis, an infection usually suffered after eating contaminated food.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
2
The adult was among nine confirmed cases of listeriosis
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
The HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is probing the death in Ireland.
Listeriosis is caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes and is a notifiable disease, meaning medical practitioners are required to tell public health bosses if a case comes to their attention.
It follows a major recall of ready-made meals from Irish stores due to the possible presence of listeria monocytogenes. The list of over 200 recalled products is available here.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said in a statement: "A National Outbreak Control Team is currently investigating an extensive outbreak of listeriosis.
"A voluntary precautionary food recall of ready-to-heat meals is underway due to a link with the outbreak.
"Nine confirmed cases of listeriosis have been identified as of 22 July 2025.
"The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been notified of and is investigating the death of an adult with confirmed listeriosis.
"To ensure medical confidentiality, no further information on this patient can be disclosed.
"The National Outbreak Control Team is chaired by the HSE National Health Protection Office and comprises the HSE National Environmental Health Service, the HSE Regional Public Health Services, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the National Salmonella, Shigella and Listeria Reference Laboratory and the National Reference Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
"The investigation is ongoing and there is no further comment at this time."
How to protect myself from listeriosis?
Protecting yourself against the fatal bacteria is vital, especially for pregnant women, infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
There are several measures issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre that can significantly reduce the risk of contracting the infection: Keep foods for as short a time as possible and follow storage instructions including 'use by' and 'eat by' dates
Cook food thoroughly, especially meat, ensuring that it is cooked through to the middle
Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked and ready-to-eat foods
Wash salads, fruit and raw vegetables thoroughly before eating, or peel if appropriate
Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after contact with uncooked food
Make sure that the refrigerator is working correctly
When heating food in a microwave, follow heating and standing times recommended by the manufacturer
Throw away leftover reheated food. Cooked food which is not eaten immediately should be cooled as rapidly as possible and then stored in the refrigerator
Pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems should avoid eating high-risk foods such as: raw (unpasteurised) milk foods made from raw milk, soft or mould-ripened cheeses (e.g. feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses), pâté smoked salmon
If contact with ewes at lambing time is unavoidable for pregnant women, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems, washing hands after handling animals should reduce any possibility of infection
The recalled branded prepared meals and side dishes were produced by Ballymaguire Foods, but are marketed under the labels of the stores selling them.
The list includes popular ready meals such as the Meals Made Easy, Beef Lasagne and Finest Cottage Pie, both sold in Tesco, and the Signature Taste Potato Mash sold in SuperValu.
Centra Freshly Prepared Chicken Massaman with Sticky Jasmine Rice and Aldi Inspired Cousine Chicken & Broccoli Bake were also recalled following the alert.
Also included are The Happy Pear Shepherdless Pie, Creamy Veggie Lasagne and Chickpea Curry items.
BALLYMAGUIRE STATEMENT
Ballymaguire Foods told RTE News it had started a "full precautionary recall of all products produced at one of our facilities following the identification of listeria bacteria as part of a quality control check".
Apologising to customers, it added that "incidents of this nature are extremely rare for us".
It said it is treating the outbreak "with the utmost seriousness and are working closely with all parties to manage the situation swiftly and responsibly".
On Saturday, July 19 it said it temporarily suspended all production at the affected facility and carried out a full pharmaceutical-grade clean-down operation, while production will resume when it is confirmed safe to do so.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES
Ballymaguire Foods added: "Immediately upon identifying the issue, we informed our retail and food-service customers and engaged with all relevant authorities, including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the Health Service Executive, and our regional Environmental Health Officer.
"Through our retail partners, all products are being withdrawn from the shelves, and a full consumer communication process is under way."
As a precautionary measure Ballymaguire Foods said that on Saturday it made the decision to temporarily suspend all production at the affected facility, and that a comprehensive assessment and immediate corrective actions were carried out, including a full pharmaceutical-grade clean down of the facility.
It said production will resume at the facility once it is confirmed safe to do so.
DO NOT EAT WARNING
Consumers are advised to check their freezers for the implicated products and dispose of them.
They are also encouraged not to eat the affected ready meals and to dispose of them or return them to the point-of-sale.
The FSAI added that recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.
They continued: "Retailers are requested to remove the implicated products from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
RECALL NOTICE
"Wholesalers/distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers.
"Caterers should not use the implicated products."
If healthy customers have consumed the contaminated food with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, they are usually fine as they don't exhibit any symptoms or cause a mild flu-like illness.
But if immunocompromised and elderly individuals contracted the infection from contaminated food, it can spread to the central nervous system, causing meningitis and/or septicaemia.
SYMPTOMS OF LISTERIOSIS
It comes with such symptoms as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions.
Infected pregnant women may have no symptoms or experience only a mild flu-like illness.
Still, infection during pregnancy can lead to premature labour, meningitis in the newborn or even miscarriage.
The FSAI added: "Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
"In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications.
"The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days."
If contracted, the dangerous bacteria can be treated with antibiotics, but even with treatment, infection can be severe and may result in death.
FULL LIST OF ALL RECALLED PRODUCTS
A FULL list of the recalled products.
Tesco Irish Classics Cottage Pie with Peas & Carrots Dinner Beef Dinner Bacon & Cabbage Dinner Beef Stew Dinner Chicken Curry & Rice Beef Burger Dinner
Classic Kitchen Chicken & Ham Dinner Chicken/Leek & White Wine Sauce Dinner
Meals Made Easy Cottage Pie Beef Lasagne Chicken Curry Chicken & Pasta Bake Chicken & Broccoli Potato Bake Carbonara Pasta Bake Chicken Korma
Finest Cottage Pie Mac & Triple Cheese Beef Lasagne Beef Bourguignon and Mash Spaghetti Bolognese Spaghetti Carbonara Chicken Korma with Fragrant Pilau Rice Chicken Tikka Masala with Fragrant Pilau Rice Chicken and Chorizo Paella Chicken, Bacon & Leek Pie Creamy Fish Pie Beef in Black Bean Sauce & Egg Rice Chicken Al Fredo with Linguine Chicken Parmigiano Chicken Breast in a Mushroom and Madeira Sauce Chicken Massaman with Jasmine Rice Irish Angus Beef Meatballs with Pappardelle Creamy Mashed Potato Potato Gratin Three Cheese Cauliflower Bake Goose Fat Irish Potatoes Rainbow Root Vegetables Salmon with Lemon & Dill Sauce
Tesco (own brand) Mashed Potato Mashed Carrot & Parsnip Mashed Turnip Cauliflower Cheese Chicken Tikka with Pilau Rice Chicken Jalfrezi with Pilau Rice Chicken Korma with Pilau Rice Butter Chicken Masala with Pilau Rice Chinese Style Chicken Curry with Egg Rice Chicken & Black Bean with Egg Rice Chicken Chow Mein Sweet & Sour Chicken with Egg Rice Thai Green Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice Thai Red Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice Coconut Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice Tex Mex Chilli Beef Burrito Bowl Tex Mex Chicken Burrito Bowl Mashed Potato Carrot & Parsnip Mash Baby Potatoes with a Garlic & Herb Butter
Supervalu Signature Taste Potato Mash Potato Gratin
Supervalu (own brand) Beef Lasagne Cottage Pie Chicken Pasta Chicken Curry Chicken Arrabiata Ham & Mushroom Tagliatelle Spaghetti Bolognese Spaghetti Carbonara Mac & Cheese
Freshly Prepared Irish Beef Dinner Chicken & Stuffing Dinner Salmon Dinner Burger Dinner Beef Lasagne Cottage Pie/Cheddar Crumb Carbonara Pasta Bake Chicken Curry & Rice Chicken Tikka & Rice Beef Chilli & Rice Mexican Bean Burrito Bowl Salmon Penne Pasta Teriyaki Beef Noodle Bowl Slow Cooked Beef Ragu with Pappardelle Beef Lasagne Cottage Pie Chicken With Black Bean & Egg rice Chicken with White Wine sauce Chorizo Mac & Cheese Korean style chicken with noodles Chicken Laksa Carrots & Peas Green Cabbage Irish Rooster Mash Mashed Turnip Roasted Baby Potatoes Roasted Carrots with Black Pepper & Sea Salt
Centra Centra (own brand) Beef Lasagne Cottage Pie Chicken Pasta Chicken Curry Chicken Arrabiata Ham & Mushroom Tagliatelle Spaghetti Bolognese
Freshly Prepared Irish Beef Dinner Chicken & Stuffing Dinner Salmon Dinner Burger Dinner Beef Lasagne Cottage Pie/Cheddar Crumb Carbonara Pasta Bake Chicken Curry & Rice Chicken Tikka & Rice Centra FP Mexican Bean Burrito Bowl 450g x 6 Teriyaki Beef Noodle Bowl Slow Cooked Beef Ragu with Pappardelle Chicken With Black Bean & Egg rice Chicken with White Wine sauce Chorizo Mac & Cheese Korean Style Chicken with Noodles Chicken Laksa Centra FP Chicken Massaman with Sticky Jasmine Rice
Supervalu & Centra Kitchen Beef Lasagne
Fuel'd Foods Chicken Curry with Brown Rice Wholemeal Pasta Bolognese Chicken Tikka Masala with Brown Rice Tomato Chicken & Wholemeal Pasta Chicken & Chorizo with Baby Potatoes
Clean Cut Beef Stroganoff Chicken Carbonara Chicken Curry Spaghetti Bolognese Chicken Spice Bag Thai Green Curry Chow Mein Chicken Chorizo Pasta Veggie Bolognese Beef Taco Wedges Butter Chicken Cottage Pie
Happy Pear Veggie Lasagne Shepherdless Pie Cannelloni Chickpea Curry Tasty Thai Noodles Sticky Soy Noodles Mexican Bean Burrito Bowl Spinach & Mushroom Pasta
Food To Go Beef Lasagne Chicken Curry Beef Casserole Chilli Beef Chicken Tikka Chicken Pasta Bake Beef Stroganoff Carbonara Pasta Bake Bolognese with Pancetta Mash Potato Potato Gratin Basmati Rice Roasted Baby Potatoes Roast Root Veg Green Cabbage Baton Carrots Carrots & Peas Mash Turnip Potato Wedges Pilau Rice
Aldi Specially Selected Spaghetti Bolognese Ham & Mushroom Tagliatelle
Inspired Cuisine Irish Cottage Pie Rustic & Hearty Beef Lasagne Chip Shop Chicken Curry Chicken & Broccoli Bake Rustic & Hearty Bolognese Pasta Bake Rustic & Hearty Chicken & Tomato Pasta Bake Seafood Pie Chicken Pie
Various Retailers From the Farm Chicken Curry Beef Lasagne Basmati Rice Chilli Beef
The Happy Pear Shepherdless Pie Creamy Veggie Lasagne Chickpea Curry
Good Food Locally Sourced Turkey & Ham Dinner Chicken & Stuffing Dinner Spaghetti Carbonara Chicken Arrabiata Spaghetti Bolognese Beef Dinner
Clean Cut Beef Stroganoff with Long Grain Rice Chicken & Chorizo Paella with Arborio Rice Chicken Carbonara with Tagliatelle Pasta Chicken Curry with Long Grain Rice Spaghetti Bolognese with Irish Beef Chicken Spice Box with Sweet Potato Thai Green Curry with Coconut Basmati Rice Turkey Meatballs & Spaghetti