HEALTH officials are investigating a fatal listeria outbreak linked to desserts dished out in NHS hospitals.
Three people have died and two people were hospitalised after eating puddings contaminated with the bacteria, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Food Standards Agency (FSA) said.
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The health agencies are investigating a total of five cases of listeria monocytogenes in NHS hospitals across the country, which were flagged between May and December 2024.
Two cases were spotted in hospitals in Yorkshire and Humber and one each in the North West, West Midlands and Wales.
Patients were aged between 68 and 89 and all had underlying health conditions for which they were hospitalised.
Three of them passed away, with listeria monocytogenes being reported as the cause of death for one patient.
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Officials suspect mousses and ice creams made by Cool Delight Desserts to be the source of the outbreak of the diarrhoea-causing bug.
All chilled desserts including ice cream, ice cream rolls, mousses and yoghurts supplied by the company to the NHS and care homes have now been recalled by the FSA as a precaution.
"These products must all be withdrawn from service, and placed in quarantine while investigations are ongoing," the health watchdog said in an alert.
But health officials are still trying to determine whether other sources could be to blame.
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Listeria can cause an illness calledlisteriosis- a rare infection from consuming contaminated foods.
Symptoms include a fever, aches, pains, vomiting and diarrhoea - but it can be more serious.
Video explains what Listeria is and how the bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea is spread
Pregnant women and their babies, older people and those with weakened immune systems are all at higher risk of severe illness and complications such as sepsis or meningitis.
The FSA said listeria had been detected in two Cool Delight mousse flavours - chocolate and vanilla and strawberry and vanilla - last month during routine testing at an NHS hospital in the South West of England.
Though levels of the bacterium were below the regulatory threshold of 100 colony forming units per gram (CFU/g), the FSA said "severely immunocompromised patients in hospitals and other health care settings" were "more likely to suffer severe symptoms from listeria infection".
A representative from Cool Delight Desserts told Food Safety News that the company was in ongoing discussions with the FSA and was unable to comment until the investigations were concluded.
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Officials are recommending healthcare facilities don't serve desserts from Cool Delight - which have a two hour shelf life - until further notice.
"Investigations are underway by the businesses concerned, along with their Local Authorities and the FSA," the FSA said.
"NHS hospitals have been advised to remove products from
service and sale.
"Some care homes have also been supplied the product.
What is listeria?
LISTERIA is a type of bacteria that can contaminate many foods.
It can causelisteriosis- a rare infection from consuming affected foods.
This usually goes away on its own, but it can make some people seriously ill.
Symptoms include a high temperature, aches, pains, chills, vomiting, feeling sick, and diarrhoea.
If you're pregnant, you may also have a stomach ache or notice your baby moving less than usual, and babies with listeriosis may be irritable and feed less than usual.
In rare cases, the infection can result inmeningitis- inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.
This kills up to half of all people affected if left untreated, Doctors Without Borders says.
Listeriosis is more serious for older people, anyone who is pregnant, newborn babies, people with weakened immune systems (such as those with cancer, diabetes, liver disease or kidney disease), and people having treatment which weakens their immune system (like chemotherapy or steroids).
You can reduce your risk by:
- Keeping chilled, ready-to-eat foods cold (set your fridge to below 5C)
- Eating ready-to-eat foods within four hours of taking them out of the fridge
- Eating, cooking or freezing foods by their use-by date
- Following storage instructions on food labels and use opened food within two days (unless otherwise specified)
- Keeping raw and ready-to-eat foods separate
- Following cooking instructions on packaging
- Cooking and reheating foods until they are steaming hot all the way through
- Washing your hands regularly with soap and water
The foods most likely to cause listeriosis include:
- Cold, cooked, sliced meats and cured meats
- Smoked and cured fish, including sushi
- Cooked shellfish
- Soft mould-ripened cheese (such as camembert and brie) and blue-veined cheeses
- Pâté
- Pre-prepared sandwiches and salads
- Pre-cut fruit
- Unpasteurised milk
- Dairy products made from unpasteurised milk
While uncommon, listeriosis alone illness kills one in five patients globally, according to theWorld Health Organization.
Source: NHS
"These settings, and any others who may care for immunocompromised people, are also advised not to serve the affected mousse."
People infected with listeriosis often won't get any symptoms at all, or only mild symptoms like a high temperature, aches and pains, chills, nausea and diarrhoea.
The symptoms can usually be treated at home by resting and drinking plenty of fluids.
But people at a higher risk of getting seriously ill may need antibiotics.
According to the latest available data, 177 cases of listeriosis were reported in England and Wales in 2023.
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Thirty-two were recorded, of which 11 had listeriosis as a cause of death on the death certificate.
Seven outbreaks in total were investigated including national wave associated withsmoked fish, semi-soft cheese and beef products.
