Grower withdraws Italian parsley after listeria find

A spokeswoman for New World parent company Foodstuffs said all herbs were removed from sale on Tuesday, with seven stores affected. Photo / File

A fresh-herb grower has confirmed its Italian parsley, stocked by two New World supermarkets in the Auckland region, has tested positive for listeria - a bacterium that can cause miscarriage.

Tasman Bay Herbs voluntarily withdrew its full range of products from stockists on Monday, but yesterday it narrowed the bug's presence down to the Italian parsley, sold to New World Victoria Park and Warkworth.

The Ministry for Primary Industries says anyone with a 50g bag of the brand's fresh-cut Italian parsley should check the best-before date. If it is on or before June 27, 2015, it should not be consumed.

The product was also supplied to Wellington's New World Thorndon, Pak'nSave Upper Hutt, Nelson's Fresh Choice Richmond and Raeward Fresh Richmond, and Christchurch New World supermarkets Northwood, South City and St Martins.

A spokeswoman for New World parent company Foodstuffs said all herbs were removed from sale on Tuesday, with seven stores affected.

"We would advise all customers to wash their fresh herbs as a precaution and if they have any health concerns please contact their local health provider," she said.

Tasman Bay Herbs owner Don Grant said the parsley had been supplied to his business by another grower.

Normally his products were grown hydroponically, but the Italian parsley had been grown in the ground.

The contamination had been picked up in the firm's regular testing.