An urgent recall has been issued for apples and kiwi fruit sold in major UK supermarkets over fears of Salmonella contamination.
Shoppers have been warned not to eat affected products. (Image: Getty)
An urgent recall has been issued for apples and kiwi fruit sold in supermarkets across Britain after concerns they may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The alert was issued on Tuesday by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which said fruit supplier PrepWorld had recalled several pre-packaged fruit items from major supermarkets following testing that detected Salmonella in apples and kiwi used in the products.
The affected items include ready-to-eat fruit pots and snack packs sold in ASDA, Morrisons, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.
All products involved carry best-before or use-by dates of 23 or 24 June.
At ASDA, the only product affected is a 220g Pink Lady Apple, Mango, Strawberry & Blueberry fruit pot priced at £2.75.
Morrisons has recalled a single product, a 220g Kiwi, Melon & Strawberries pack priced at £2.50 with a use-by date of 24 June.
Tesco has the largest number of affected items, with four products removed from shelves. These include its 250g Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry pots (use-by 24 June, £2.50), 100g Kiwi Fruit Pot (£1.50), 290g Fruit Kebabs containing kiwi, watermelon, mango and pineapple chunks (£4.10), and 125g Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry packs (£1.50).
Sainsbury’s and M&S both have three recalled products each.
At Sainsbury’s, affected items include 220g Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry pots, Orange & Kiwi 240g packs, and Pink Lady Apple & Grape 240g packs, all with a use-by date of 23 June, reports the Daily Mail.
M&S has recalled three apple-based products: 90g Café Pink Lady Apple slices, 90g (FTG) Pink Lady Apple packs, and 225g Pink Lady Apple Slices, all with a use-by date of 24 June.
Waitrose has also removed its 115g Pink Lady Apple and Grapes packs, which carry a best-before date of 23 June.
In its statement, the FSA said:
“Prepworld is recalling the above products. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products.
“These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the products. Please see the attached notices.”
Salmonella is one of the leading causes of food poisoning worldwide and can lead to symptoms including fever, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
The affected supermarkets are ASDA, Morrisons, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. (Image: Getty)
While it is most commonly linked to raw or undercooked meat, poultry and eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables can also be a source of contamination.
According to FSA guidance, young children, people aged 65 and over, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill.
The NHS says symptoms usually begin within hours or days of consuming contaminated food, although in some cases they can take weeks to appear.
It advises sufferers to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, alongside rest, paracetamol, and eating when able.
The FSA has told consumers who have purchased the affected products not to eat them.
Instead, shoppers are advised to return them to the store of purchase for a full refund.
The recall comes just a year after a similar warning was issued over Salmonella concerns in a savoury snack sold by Lidl.
The supermarket recalled its Sol & Mar Chicharricos BBQ Pork Scratchings after potential contamination was identified.
The FSA warned at the time that the affected batches could cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms, and customers were instructed to return them for a full refund with no receipt required.