The Dublin headquartered convenience food firm, Greencore, has issued a recall for several of its pre-packaged sandwiches, wraps, and salads sold in UK supermarkets. The decision was described as precautionary due to potential E.coli contamination. The UK Food Safety Agency (FSA), while noting that no E.coli traces were detected in the products, supported the recall. Greencore has stated that this voluntary recall roots from the possibility of a food safety hazard, believed to be linked to salad leaves present in the products. The recent surge of E.coli outbreak, resulting in the hospitalisation of over 60 individuals, led to this action as well as similar recalls by other food-to-go manufacturers.
Among the 45 Greencore products slated for recall are items sold in Aldi, Asda, Boots, Sainsbury’s, and other grocers. This includes an Aldi chicken fajita triple wrap, Boots’ chicken salad sandwich, and a Sainsbury’s peri peri chicken wrap.
The FSA clarified that the recall was due to the potential existence of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli, the symptoms of which include serious diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort, and can potentially lead to haemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe condition that can culminate in kidney failure and is fatal in certain cases.
Alongside Greencore, Samworth Brothers Manton Wood, another UK food-to-go industry specialist, announced the recall of several pre-packaged items, inclusive of a Tesco chicken salad sub, a Tesco chicken club sandwich, and a OneStop Hoisin duck wrap.
According to a BBC report, there are currently 211 known E.coli cases in the UK, a significant rise from last week’s 113 cases. Consequently, at least 67 individuals have required hospitalisation, as per the UK Health Security Agency’s data.
In a safety-first approach, Greencore has initiated a voluntary recall of several sandwich and wrap products due to possible food health concerns, as confirmed by a company representative. Asserting Greencore’s commitment to paramount food quality, the rep shared that they are in collaboration with the Food Standards Agency and their suppliers to identify and handle any potential problems.
Despite experiencing a 2% decrease in shares on Friday, Greencore’s stock has risen by over 17% within the last month. This follows their half-year results, announced in May, which slightly outperformed predictions. Furthermore, the company unveiled a return of £50 million (€58.5 million) for its shareholders through share buy-backs and dividends.