More than a dozen deli and pre-packaged salad batches sold at more than 400 supermarkets and retailers across New Zealand have been recalled due to fears of listeria contamination.
The recall involves specific, dated salads from the Pams, Bush Road, Bells and Country Foods brands as well as unbranded salads. South Island Fresh Foods has recalled the specific batches.
New World, Pak'nSave, Four Square, Fresh Choice, Supervalue Night & Day and a number of independent retailers have all received the salads, according to a list released today by the Ministry of Primary Industries' New Zealand Food and Safety.
"New Zealand Food Safety [NZFS] is advising the public to return or dispose of specific batches of various ready-to-eat salads as they may contain listeria bacteria," MPI said in a statement.
Routine testing had found the presence of listeria in the recalled products, sold in-store at delis and pre-packaged.
The full list of products
Sold pre-packed: • Bush Road brand Creamy Chicken Salad with Basil (400g), use by date of January 27-February 06 • Bush Road brand Egg Supreme (200g), use by date of January 31 – February 07 • Bush Road brand Potato Salad (250g), use by date of January 31 – February 07 • Bush Road brand Potato Salad (400g), use by date of January 31 – February 10 • Pams brand Potato Salad (300g), use by date of January 31 – February 10 • Pams brand Smoked Chicken Pasta Salad (230g), use by date of January 27– February 05 • Unbranded Potato Salad (400g) and (600g), use by date of January 31 - February 07 • Unbranded Potato Salad (200g), use by date of February 08– February 09
Sold January 18–29 in-stores from deli counter: • Bells brand Potato Salad • Bush Road Creamy Chicken Salad with Basil • Bush Road brand Egg Supreme • Country Foods brand Egg and Celery • Country Foods brand Broccolini and Bacon
The products have been sold at Pak'nSave, New World, Four Square, Fresh Choice, SuperValue and Night & Day outlets across New Zealand (full list below). Countdown stores have not received the affected products.
Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, more commonly known as listeria, is found in soil and water and when it contaminates food or drinks consumed by humans, it can cause a severe illness called listeriosis.
The number of cases of illness in New Zealand are small, according to MPI, but it can be life-threatening.
The bacteria can be found in raw foods, such as uncooked meats and fresh produce, as well as ready-to-eat food like soft cheeses, meat and smoked seafood.
If listeria gets into a food operation, it can live for years. It can get into the food processing areas on anything brought in from outside, including packing materials, people's shoes or clothes, raw food and ingredients and tools.
Symptoms range from a mild infection with flu-like symptoms and gastroenteritis, and can occasionally cause severe blood poisoning or meningitis, according to MPI.
NZFS food compliance manager Nigel Hughes said customers who had bought the products should not consume them.
"Listeriosis infection can be serious among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and their unborn babies, newborn babies, people with weakened immune systems and elderly people.
"For those in the high-risk groups, listeriosis typically has an incubation period of 2 to 3 weeks (or longer) before symptoms appear."
Healthy adults are likely to experience only mild infection, causing mild diarrhoea and flu-like symptoms, he said.
"If you have consumed any of these products and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice," Hughes said.
There are no known reports of illness. The product has not been exported.
The following supermarkets have received the affected products:
NORTH ISLAND:
New World North Island:
New World Albany New World Fresh Collective Alberton New World Aokautere New World Birkenhead New World Botany Town New World Melody's New World Brookfield New World Browns Bay New World Cambridge New World Carterton New World Churton Park New World Dannevirke New World Devonport New World Eastridge New World Feilding New World Flaxmere New World Foxton New World Gate Pa New World Glenview New World Green Bay New World Greenmeadows New World Hastings New World Havelock North New World Hillcrest New World Hobsonville New World Howick New World Hutt City New World Inglewood New World Island Bay New World Kaikohe New World Kapiti New World Karori New World Kawerau New World Kerikeri New World Khandallah New World Kumeu New World Levin New World Long Bay New World Marton New World Masterton New World Matamata New World Merrilands New World Metro Shore City New World Milford New World Miramar New World Morrinsville New World Mt Maunganui New World Mt Roskill New World New Lynn New World New Plymouth New World Newlands New World Newtown New World Ngaruawahia New World Ohakune New World Onekawa New World Onerahi New World Opotiki New World Orewa New World Otaki New World Pahiatua New World Papakura New World Papatoetoe New World Paremata New World Pioneer New World Porirua New World Pukekohe New World Metro Queen Street New World Railway Metro New World Regent New World Remuera New World Rototuna New World Silverstream New World Southmall New World Stokes Valley New World Stonefields New World Taihape New World Taumarunui New World Tawa New World Te Kuiti New World Te Puke New World Te Rapa New World Thorndon New World Tokoroa New World Turangi New World Victoria Park New World Waihi New World Waikanae New World Waipukurau New World Wairoa New World Waitara New World Waiuku New World Whanganui New World Warkworth New World Wellington City New World Westend New World Whakatane New World Whangamata New World Whangaparaoa New World Whitby New World Whitianga New World Willis Street Metro
Pak'nSave North Island:
Pak'nSave Albany Pak'nSave Botany Pak'nSave Cameron Road Pak'nSave Clarence Street Pak'nSave Clendon Pak'nSave Gisborne City Pak'nSave Glen Innes Pak'nSave Hastings Pak'nSave Hawera Pak'nSave Kaitaia Pak'nSave Kapiti Pak'nSave Kilbirnie Pak'nSave Levin Pak'nSave Lincoln North Pak'nSave Lower Hutt Pak'nSave Mangere Pak'nSave Manukau Pak'nSave Masterton Pak'nSave Mill St Pak'nSave Mt Albert Pak'nSave Napier City Pak'nSave New Plymouth Pak'nSave Ormiston Pak'nSave Palmerston North Pak'nSave Papakura Pak'nSave Papamoa Pak'nSave Petone Pak'nSave Porirua Pak'nSave Pukekohe Pak'nSave Rotorua Pak'nSave Royal Oak Pak'nSave Silverdale Pak'nSave Sylvia Park Pak'nSave Tamatea Pak'nSave Taupo Pak'nSave Tauriko Pak'nSave Te Awamutu Pak'nSave Thames Pak'nSave Upper Hutt Pak'nSave Wairau Pak'nSave Wanganui Pak'nSave Westgate Pak'nSave Whakatane Pak'nSave Whangarei
Four Square Kaiwaka Four Square Aramoho Four Square Awapuni Four Square Bay Four Square BJs Waitara Four Square Bombay Four Square Bulls Four Square Castlecliff Four Square Cherrywood Four Square Coopers Beach Four Square Coromandel Four Square Dannevirke Four Square Dargaville Four Square Eastbourne Four Square Eastbrook Four Square Edmund Road Four Square Foodworld Four Square Fosters Four Square Foxton Beach Four Square Gulf Harbour Four Square Heaphy Terrace Four Square Hikurangi Four Square Ruotoria Four Square Hillcrest Four Square Houhora Four Square Hunterville Taylors Four Square Ideal Four Square Kamo Four Square Kawakawa Four Square Mangapapa Four Square Mangawhai Four Square Martinborough Four Square Murupara Four Square Ngatea Four Square Ngongotaha Four Square Oakura Four Square Ohauiti Four Square Ohope Beach Four Square Okato Four Square Oneroa Four Square Opunake Four Square Paeroa Four Square Papamoa Beach Four Square Parakai Four Square Parua Four Square Patumahoe Four Square Pirongia Four Square Raglan Four Square Ruatoria Four Square Shannon Four Square St Johns Four Square Stratford Four Square Super Seven Four Square Tairua Four Square Tamahere Four Square Taradale Four Square Te Puke Four Square Te Puna Four Square The Lakes Four Square Tokomaru Bay Four Square Torbay Four Square Waiau Pa Four Square Waihi Beach Four Square Waipawa Four Square Waipu Four Square Western Heights
Redberry Supermarket Night 'n Day Victoria Alicetown Espresso Silverstream Espresso Gilmours North Shore
SOUTH ISLAND
New World South Island:
New World Alexandra New World Ashburton New World Balclutha New World Bishopdale New World Blenheim New World Centre City New World Cromwell New World Durham St New World Elles Road New World Fendalton New World Ferry Road New World Gardens New World Gore New World Greymouth New World Halswell New World Hokitika New World Kaiapoi New World Kaikoura New World Lincoln New World Mosgiel New World Motueka New World Nelson City New World Northwood New World Oamaru New World Prestons New World Rangiora New World Rolleston New World St Martins New World Stanmore New World Stoke New World Temuka New World Three Parks New World Timaru New World Waimate New World Waitaki New World Wakatipu New World Wanaka New World Westport New World Wigram New World Windsor New World Winton
Four Square Akaroa Four Square Alexandra Four Square Alpine Four Square Amberley Four Square Arrowtown Four Square Ascot Four Square Atawhai Four Square Bluff Four Square Brightwater Four Square Brockville Four Square Cheviot Four Square Clutterbucks/Mataura Four Square Clyde Four Square Culverden Four Square Darfield Four Square Fairlie Four Square Franz Josef Four Square Frasers Four Square Hampden Four Square Hanmer Springs Four Square Havelock Four Square Hawarden Four Square Karamea Four Square Kurow Four Square Lawrence Four Square Lumsden Four Square MacKenzie Four Square Maniototo Four Square Mapua Four Square Mataura Four Square Methven Four Square Mitchells Four Square Murchison Four Square Netherby Four Square Newfield Four Square Nightcaps Four Square Omarama Four Square Otatara Four Square Otautau Four Square Owaka Four Square Palmerston Four Square Picton Four Square Pleasant Point Four Square Port Chalmers Four Square Rakaia Four Square Redcliffs Four Square Reefton Four Square Rosebank Four Square Spring Creek Four Square St Clair Four Square Stafford St Four Square Stewart Island Four Square Tapanui Four Square Tapawera Four Square Te Anau Four Square Tekapo Four Square Tokomairiro Four Square Tuatapere Four Square Twizel Four Square Wakefield Four Square Wanaka Four Square West Melton Four Square Weston Four Square Wyndham
Night 'n Day Arrowtown Night 'n Day Balclutha Night 'n Day Blenheim Night 'n Day Caversham Night 'n Day Church St Night 'n Day Dee St Night 'n Day Elles Rd Night 'n Day Green Island Night 'n Day Hagley Night 'n Day Kaikoura Night 'n Day Milton Night 'n Day Park Night 'n Day Regent Night 'n Day Richmond Night 'n Day Shotover Night 'n Day Stoke Night 'n Day Tay Night 'n Day Temuka Night 'n Day Washdyke Night 'n Day Winton Night 'n Day Woolston
On The Spot Stores:
On the Spot Alray Dairy On the Spot Caltex Dyers Road On the Spot Caltex Wanaka On the Spot Collingwood Foodcentre On the Spot Fox Glacier On the Spot Ikamatua Store On the Spot Kaiteriteri On the Spot Longhurst On the Spot Otematata On the Spot Riversdale On the Spot Hawea Store & Kitchen
Other retailers
Allenton Fresh Amalgamated Food Distributors Associated Distributors Beano's Bakery Bidfood Fresh Christchurch Bidfood Nelson Bidfood Timaru Br/eads of Europe Harvest Market Ferry Road Jimmy's Pies Joknal Products Mad Butcher Riccarton Marlborough Food Distributors Ltd Mediterrean Foods Marlborough Metro Mart Colombo Metro Mart Oxford Terrace Mobil Bealey Ave Mobil Wigram Mobil St Martins Mobil Rakaia Nelson Food Distributors New Brighton Fresh Mediterranean Foods, Rangiora NPD Moorhouse NPD Rolleston NPD Redwood Omakau Supermarket Picton Provedoring Piko Whole Foods Raeward Fresh Harewood Raeward Fresh Richmond Raeward Fresh Tower Junction Raeward Fresh Queenstown Ranfurly Supermarket Rangiora Produce Market Ltd Service Foods Southern Alp Sprouts Ltd Southland Food Services Ltd Terrace Distributors Ltd Totally Gluten Free Bakery Veggie Boys Ltd Zesto Convenience Store Zesto Colombo St