KEY POINTS:
Meat contaminated with listeria was sold in cafeterias and served to some low risk patients at Waikato Hospital this month.
Routine testing by Health Waikato's food and nutrition service discovered listeria in packaged, externally purchased cold beef at Waikato Hospital.
The beef had been cleared as fit for sale by the supplier.
The testing was carried out at the hospital as part of the Waikato District Health Board's Food Safety Programme.
The programme was not compulsory but has been in place since 2006 as a quality and risk management initiative.
"Once the presence of listeria was suspected by Health Waikato's catering services, the product was withdrawn and relevant agencies, including New Zealand Food Safety Authority and Health Waikato's Population Health Service were advised," Waikato Hospital group manager Hayley McConnell said today.
However, contaminated meat was sold in both Waikato Hospital cafeterias - the Upper Deck Cafe and Hockin Cafe - from February 8-13, in sandwiches and salads and served to some low-risk patients from February 11-13.
Waikato DHB medical officer of health Dr Anita Bell said the risk of a person developing a listeria infection after consumption of a contaminated product was "very small".
But Ms McConnell said Health Waikato believed the public should be made aware of the finding and the possible risk, "however minimal."
Dr Bell said listeria was a bacterium which generally only caused illness in pregnant women, the very young, the elderly and people with a compromised immune system.
Symptoms could include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and aches and pains in joints and muscles and could lead to meningitis and blood poisoning.
"In pregnant women, mild flu-like illness may be experienced, however infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth," Dr Bell said.
"All pregnant women are advised not to eat chilled, pre-cooked meat."
There was only one case of listeria notified in the Waikato last year involving an elderly person.
"Should anyone who ate a beef salad or beef sandwich on the above dates from either of our cafeterias, or as a patient in a ward, become concerned about their health in the next few weeks, we suggest they contact their doctor highlighting the possibility of listeria."
Information was being sent to all Waikato GPs.
- NZPA
