Shoppers issued urgent 'do not eat' warning as popular salad products recalled

Customers have been issued an urgent 'do not eat' warning about several varieties of potato salad.

Island Salads and Provenance have recalledpacks of potato and bacon salad over potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

This recall, affecting customers in Northern Ireland, will be highlighted with notices in all retail outlets stocking the items. Anyone who has bought them is being advised against consuming them.

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Instead, shoppers can take them back to their point of purchase for a complete refund, reports the Express.

A statement released by the Food Standards Agency said: "Symptoms caused by Listeria monocytogenes can be similar to flu and include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea. However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications such as meningitis.

"Some people are more vulnerable to listeria infections, including those over 65 years of age, pregnant women and their unborn babies, babies less than one month old and people with weakened immune systems."

Island Salads Potato and Bacon Salad

Pack size: 300g

Use-by date: September 25, 2025

These items are being recalled as a precautionary step due to the potential presence of Listeria.

If you have bought this item, do not consume it.

Instead, take it back to your local store, where you will receive a refund.

Provenance Potato and Bacon Salad

Pack size: 200g

Use-by date: September 14 and 15, 2025

These products also potentially carry the risk of Listeria, so don't consume them, and return them to where you purchased them instead. The companies have expressed their apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Listeria is widespread in the environment and can contaminate a vast array of foods, but it's more common in ready-to-eat foods, according to the FSA.

To reduce the risk of listeriosis, it's crucial to chill your food below 5C, as this will halt or significantly slow the growth of bacteria including Listeria.

It's also essential to refrigerate foods as soon as possible after purchasing them, and consume ready-to-eat foods shortly after removing them from the fridge, within four hours or within two hours on warm days.