The 10 symptoms of deadly listeriosis infection as person dies and over 140 meals recalled from Irish supermarkets
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland
Advertisement
2
Listeria monocytogenes is a potentially fatal bacterium that causes listeriosis
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
2
The infection can include several symptoms
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
And it emerged today that
Nine cases of listeriosis have been confirmed in Ireland as of Tuesday, July 22.
But how does listeriosis affect a person and what symptoms do we need to look out for?
Advertisement
Read more in News
The infection can include mild flu-like symptoms or none at all, according to the
Safefood says a person with a listeria infection can have fever, tiredness and headache.
There can also be gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
However, in rare cases the infection can be more severe and cause serious complications.
Advertisement
Most read in Irish News
Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre says that in immunocompromised and elderly individuals, the infection can occasionally spread to the central nervous system causing meningitis and/or septicaemia, with symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance or convulsions.
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 or foods made from raw milk,
soft or mould-ripened cheeses (e.g. feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses),
pâté and
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.
Infected pregnant women may have no symptoms or experience only a mild flu-like illness. However, infection during pregnancy can lead to premature labour, meningitis in the newborn or even miscarriage.
The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is, on average, three weeks but can range between three and 70 days.
Advertisement
Diagnosis is usually made by culture of blood or cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid bathing the brain and spinal cord).
During pregnancy, a blood test is the most reliable way to find out if symptoms are due to listeriosis.
NOTIFIABLE DISEASE
Listeriosis is a notifiable disease in Ireland,
meaning medical practitioners are required to tell public
bosses if a case comes to their attention.
If you're concerned about symptoms and illness, contact your GP.
Advertisement
It follows a
from Irish stores due to the possible presence of listeria monocytogenes. The full 141-strong list
.
The recalled branded prepared meals and side dishes were produced by Ballymaguire Foods, but are marketed under the labels of the stores selling them.
POPULAR READY MEALS
The list includes popular ready meals such as the Meals Made Easy, Beef Lasagne and Finest Cottage Pie, both sold in
Centra Freshly Prepared Chicken Massaman with Sticky Jasmine Rice and Aldi Inspired Cousine Chicken & Broccoli Bake were also recalled following the alert.
Advertisement
Also included are The Happy Pear Shepherdless Pie, Creamy Veggie Lasagne and Chickpea Curry items.
Ballymaguire Foods told
'UTMOST SERIOUSNESS'
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".
Advertisement
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.
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.
PRODUCTION SUSPENDED
"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.
Advertisement
It said production will resume at the facility once it is confirmed safe to do so.
DO NOT EAT WARNING
They are also encouraged not to eat the affected ready meals and to dispose of them or return them to the point-of-
The FSAI added that recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.
Advertisement
They continued: "Retailers are requested to remove the implicated products from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
"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."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Are YOU one of the ‘missing millions' at risk of heart attacks due to undiagnosed silent killer – the 4 signs to know
MILLIONS of Brits have undiagnosed high blood pressure and are at risk of heart attacks and strokes, the British Heart Foundation warns. The charity said more than 125,000 deadly emergencies could be prevented in the next decade if doctors tracked down people unaware they are at risk. 1 High blood pressure becomes more common with age (stock image) Credit: Getty It estimates five million people are not getting the right treatment. The BHF estimates 16million people – about a third of adults – have it, but around half are not getting treatment and five million don't even know they have it. Untreated, it is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes and accounts for about half of them. Chief medical officer Professor Bryan Williams said: 'This is a powder keg for the nation's future health. 'Making sure these people are identified and treated is critical. 'Huge gains can be made by reimagining how we detect and treat common risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure. 'But at the moment, millions of people are still living undiagnosed with these conditions, which raise the risk of serious illness such as heart attack and stroke.' Most read in Health Heart diseases are the leading cause of death in the UK, on a par with cancer. High blood pressure usually does not cause any symptoms but it is easily detected with routine health checks. What is high blood pressure and what is a normal reading? Some people do show signs of illness and they can include: Headaches Blurred vision Nosebleeds Chest pains How to lower blood pressure Persistent high blood pressure (hypertension) puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs and it can raise your risk of serious conditions like heart disease, heart attacks and stroke. Here's how to reduce it. Reduce salt Adults are recommended to limit their salt to 6g per day (around one level teaspoon) to avoid health consequences including high blood pressure. The top tip is to swap out table salt, according to the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study, replacing it with a reduced sodium and added potassium alternative. Cut down on alcohol Excessive boozing can narrow the blood vessels, which raises the risk of hypertension. Official drinking guidelines advise that people should not regularly drink more than 14 units a week to keep health risks from alcohol low. Get moving Exercise is good for the heart and the blood vessels. Although the guidelines recommend 150 minutes of activity per week, if you're currently very inactive, just a walk to the shop every day is better than nothing, and you can work up from there. Studies suggest that isometric exercises - when you hold the body in one position without moving, such as a wall squat or plank - are best for lowering blood pressure. Stop smoking Smoking cigarettes is a killer. It makes the arteries sticky and narrow, which can cause blockages. While smoking is not a direct cause of high blood pressure, it can cause an instant rise to pressure, heart rate and reduce the amount of oxygen that gets to the body's cells. Skip coffee Sadly, caffeine can cause a short, but dramatic increase in your blood pressure - even if you don't have high blood pressure. Therefore cutting back on coffee is recommended as a lifestyle tip for those with hypertension. Lose weight The above tips can help you to lose weight, which is beneficial because being overweight in itself is a risk factor for hypertension. Being overweight forces your heart to work harder to pump blood around your body, which can raise your blood pressure. The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test. All adults over 40 years old are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years.
The Journal
7 hours ago
- The Journal
Food company at centre of listeriosis outbreak was hit with two prohibition orders in recent weeks
BALLYMAGUIRE FOODS WAS served with two prohibition orders in the weeks leading up to a mass recall of ready meals and side dishes that it produces. These prohibition orders were part of the same investigation that ultimately led to the recall of over 140 food items this week. A prohibition order serves to prohibit the sale of an impacted product, either temporarily or permanently. Following these prohibition orders on 30 June and 18 July, a recall notice was issued to consumers and retailers. These recall notices were also listed on the FSAI website and an alert was sent to the media. Food items are often removed from shelves due to recall notices issued by the FSAI, but such notices tend to involve only certain batches. In a statement today, Ballymaguire Foods said that all of its products have been withdrawn and that the company has suspended all production. The company added that production at the affected facility 'will only recommence once the relevant authorities are satisfied'. The move comes after a total of 142 different ready-made meals and side dishes which are made and distributed by Dublin-based Ballymaguire Foods and sold in major supermarkets across Ireland were recalled due to the possible presence of bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Medical professionals are currently investigating the death of an adult with confirmed listeriosis. Nine cases of listeriosis had been confirmed as of Tuesday. Previous recall notices On 30 June , the FSAI issued recall notices on various branded Bacon & Cabbage Dinners produced by Ballymaguire Foods due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes. These included meals produced for SuperValu, Tesco, and Centra. A HSE inspector was of the opinion that the various Bacon & Cabbage meals were 'injurious to health and unfit for human consumption' and directed that the ready meals be recalled. Advertisement Close to three weeks later, on 18 July , Ballymaguire Foods was again served a prohibition, with a recall notice being issued for various pre-packaged 'Turkey and Ham Dinners', which were sold in Centra and Supervalu. In a statement to The Journal , the FSAI said these two recall notices are 'part of the same investigation that is underway and which has resulted' in the recall of over 140 food items this week. A spokesperson for the FSAI added: 'As this is an on-going investigation no further details can be released.' 'Corrective actions' In a statement today, Ballymaguire Foods said it has appointed a public health expert to lead its response and that it is 'treating it with the utmost seriousness'. The spokesperson said the company is 'committed to doing everything necessary to responsibly and transparently address this, in full collaboration with the public health authorities'. As a precautionary measure, all Ballymaguire Food products have been withdrawn and it has suspended all production. The spokesperson said the company has 'taken corrective actions, including a full pharmaceutical-grade clean-down of the site' and that 'production at the affected facility 'will only recommence once the relevant authorities are satisfied'. It has also appointed Dr. Patrick Wall—former Chief Executive of the FSAI and former Professor of Public Health at University College Dublin—to lead its response team and review, including the implementation of any necessary enhanced procedures. 'We sincerely apologise for the concern this may cause,' said the spokesperson. 'Incidents of this nature are exceptionally rare and we are treating this with the utmost seriousness. 'We are acting decisively and transparently to protect public health which is of paramount importance to us.' Symptoms Listeriosis arises from an infection from Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Symptoms 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. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average three weeks but can range between three and 70 days. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Tesco urgently recalls THREE lunch favourites over fears of diarrhoea & vomiting as shoppers warned ‘do not eat'
TESCO has urgently recalled three lunch favourite over fears of diarrhoea and vomiting. Shoppers were warned "do not eat" as the popular products were pulled from shelves across the country. 4 Tesco has urgently recalled three lunch favourite over fears of diarrhoea and vomiting Credit: Getty 4 Chicken and Chorizo Pasta 285g, with use by dates July 24 and July 25, have been removed from stores Credit: Tesco 4 The Feta and Semi Dried Tomato Pasta was also affected Credit: Tesco 4 Shoppers were urged to return their Basil Pesto and Semi Dried Tomato Pasta Credit: Tesco The supermarket giant recalled three of their Tesco Pasta Salads over possible salmonella contamination. Affected product batches include Tesco Basil Pesto and Semi Dried Tomato Pasta 225g with a use by date of July 24 2025. The Tesco Chicken and Chorizo Pasta 285g with use by dates July 24 and July 25 have also been removed from stores. Finally shoppers have been urged to ditch their Tesco Feta Semi Dried Tomato Pasta 290g with the use by date July 24. Read More The notice added: "If you have purchased the affected date code of the above product, please do not eat it. "Instead, return it to any Tesco store for a full refund. "No receipt is required. No other Tesco products are affected by this recall." Most read in The Sun Cases hit a record decade high in 2024, soaring by almost a fifth in a single year to over 10,000 cases. But separate data this week revealed cases in the first quarter of 2025 were even higher than 2024, with some 1,588 cases logged between January and March 2025, up on the 1,541 reported over the same period in 2024. Aldi urgently recalls £3.29 freezer essential over dangerous disease that affects 1 in 100 of Brits Children under 10 years old were particularly affected, accounting for 21.5 per cent of cases. Salmonella can cause a sudden bout of fever, The bacteria attacks the gut lining, damaging cells and stopping the body from soaking up water. This is what leads to the painful cramps and nonstop diarrhoea as the body flushes out the water it couldn't absorb. Most people recover without treatment, but in rare cases it can turn deadly. Around one in 50 sufferers go on to develop a serious Young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk of complications. Salmonella lives in the guts of animals and humans and spreads through contaminated poo. How to stay safe The most effective way of lowering your risk of Salmonella involves adherence to the '4 Cs' of food hygiene: 1. Cleaning Thoroughly wash hands before and after handling any foods – especially raw meat. It's also essential to keep workspaces, knives and utensils clean before, during and after preparing your meal. 2. Cooking The bacteria that causes Salmonella infections can be inactivated when cooked at the right temperature. In general, foods should be cooked to an internal temperature above 65C - which should be maintained for at least When re-heating food, it should reach 70C or above for two minutes to kill any bacteria that have grown since it was first cooked. 3. Chilling Raw foods – especially meat and dairy – should always be stored below 5°C as this Leftovers should be cooled quickly and also stored at 5C or lower. 4. Cross-contamination To prevent Salmonella passing from raw foods to those that are already prepared or can be eaten raw (such as vegetables and fruit), it's important to wash hands and clean surfaces after handling raw meat, and to use different chopping boards for ready-to-eat foods and raw meat. Most Salmonella infections are mild and will go away in a few days on their own. But taking the right steps when storing and preparing your meals can significantly lower your risk of contracting it. Food can get tainted if it's grown in dirty water, handled with grubby hands, or touches surfaces exposed to animal waste. This contamination can occur at any stage, from farm to fork, including irrigation with contaminated water, poor hygiene during harvesting, or cross-contamination during packaging. That's how fresh produce like tomatoes, especially when eaten raw, can end up crawling with the bug. Salmonella can cling to fresh produce like tomatoes, and research suggests their texture makes them more prone to holding onto the bacteria. The risk is even greater because tomatoes are often eaten raw, unlike cooked food, which would usually kill off any bugs. It's also commonly found in raw eggs, undercooked chicken and unwashed salad leaves. Once salmonella gets onto a kitchen counter, chopping board or knife, it can survive for up to four hours, long enough to infect anything else that touches it. This comes after another major supermarket issued an urgent recall this week. The recall affects a popular ready meal from Waitrose. It could pose an allergy risk as some packs have been misplaced and could contain undeclared allergens. The Waitrose Indian Takeaway for 2 was recalled because "some packs have been mispacked with spring rolls, which contain sesame and soya, which are not mentioned on the label" the This poses a The recall affects the following products: Waitrose Indian Takeaway for 2 Pack size: 1412g Use by: 25 July 2025 Customers have been urged not to consume the product. Waitrose's recall notice instructs customers: "Do not consume. Package up item. Return the product to your local Waitrose and Partners Branch for a refund." It can be returned to your local Waitrose and Partners branch for a full refund. Your product recall rights PRODUCT recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk. If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer's website to see if a safety notice has been issued. When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault. If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer. They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice. In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected. You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item.
