SUPERMARKETS have been forced to clear their shelves of 43 different kinds of frozen vegetables after fears they could be contaminated by a deadly outbreak of listeria. 

The European Food Safety Authority says frozen corn and possibly other frozen vegetables are the likely source of an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes which has been affecting Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom since 2015.

As of June 8 2018, 47 cases including nine deaths have been reported.

What is Listeria?

Listeriosis is a rare infection caused by bacteria called listeria.

It usually goes away on its own, but can cause serious problems if you're pregnant or have a weak immune system.

Listeriosis is usually caught from eating food containing listeria bacteria.

According to the NHS, in most people listeriosis has no symptoms or only causes mild symptoms for a few days. 

They include:

  • a high temperature of 38C or above
  • aches and pains
  • chills
  • feeling sick or vomiting
  • diarrhoea

Which products do I need to avoid?

Greenyard Frozen UK Ltd has taken the precautionary step of voluntarily recalling various frozen vegetable products because they might contain Listeria monocytogenes.

The full list of recalled products include:

Pinguin Frozen Sweetcorn

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2020

Pinguin Supersweet Sweetcorn

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2020

Tesco Frozen Broccoli, Carrot and Sweetcorn Steamer

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Tesco Frozen Every Day Value Sweetcorn

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Ross Mixed Vegetables

Pack size - 12x450g

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2021

One Stop Frozen Sweetcorn

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Aldi Four Seasons Frozen Vegetable Steamers

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Aldi Frozen Four Seasons Mixed Vegetables

Pack size All

Batch code All

Best before All codes to Jan 2020

Pinguin Sweetcorn

Pack size - 1x10 kg

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2020

Aldi Four Seasons Supersweet Sweetcorn

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Waitrose Essential Supersweet Sweetcorn

Pack size - E1kg

Batch code - All

Best before - Oct 2019, Nov 2019, Aug 2019

Waitrose Essential Mixed Vegetable

Pack size - E1kg

Batch code - All

Best before - All up to Dec 2019

Tesco Frozen Mixed Vegetables

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Waitrose Fine Cut Vegetable Steamer

Pack size - E640g (4x160ge)

Batch code - All

Best before - All up to Jan 2020

Waitrose Love Life Vegetable Medley Steamers

Pack size - E640g (4x160ge)

Batch code - P6163 P7021 P7080

Best before - May 2018, Jul 2018, Sep 2018

Sainsbury's Frozen Special Mixed Vegetables

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Growers Pride Mixed Vegetables

Pack size - 12x450g

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2021

Sainsbury's Frozen Basic Mixed Vegetables

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Sainsbury's Frozen Rice Broccoli and Sweetcorn

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Sainsbury Frozen Mixed Vegetables

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Sainsbury's Frozen Carrot Broccoli and Sweetcorn

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Pinguin Supersweet Corn

Pack size - 1x10 kg

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2020

Lidl Frozen Green Grocer Supersweet Corn

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Tesco Growers Harvest Frozen Mixed Vegetables

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Lidl Frozen Freshona Vegetable Mix

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to July 2020

Iceland Frozen Mixed Vegetables

Pack size - 900g

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to 22 June 2020

Pinguin Frozen Mixed Vegetables

Pack size - 1x10 kg

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2020

Independent Mix Vegetables

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2019

Ross Mixed Vegetables

Pack size - 10x1kg

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2020

Pinguin Mixed Vegetable

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2020

Pinguin Frozen Cut Beans

Pack size - All

Batch code - NA

Best before - July 2020

Growers Pride Mixed Vegetables

Pack size - 12x750g

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2020

Ross Mixed Country Vegetables

Pack size - 10x1kg

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2020

Growers Pride Supersweet Sweetcorn

Pack size - 12x750g

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2020

Pinguin frozen Golden Rice and Vegetables

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2020

Growers Pride Supersweet Sweetcorn

Pack size - 12x450g

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2021

Ross Sweetcorn

Pack size - 12x450g

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2021

Ross Sweetcorn

Pack size - 10x1kg

Batch code - All

Best before - July 2020

Tesco Frozen Sweetcorn

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Tesco frozen Mixed Vegetables and Peppers

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Tesco Broccoli Frozen Sweetcorn Peas and Spinach Steamer

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Tesco Frozen Growers Harvest Carrot Peas and Sweetcorn Steamer

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Tesco Frozen Growers Harvest Mixed Vegetables

Pack size - All

Batch code - All

Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

What should I do if I have one of these products in my freezer?

The Food Standards Agency says if you have bought any of the above products do not eat them.

Instead, return the product to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.

The European Food Safety Authority also adds to reduce any risk of infection, consumers should thoroughly cook non ready-to-eat frozen vegetables, even though these products are commonly consumed without cooking (e.g. in salads and smoothies).

This applies especially to consumers at highest risk of contracting listeriosis – such as the elderly, pregnant women, new-borns and adults with weakened immune systems.