Advertisement

Frozen vegetables recall amid fresh listeria outbreak fears

Listeria fears have sparked a new recall of fresh and frozen packaged vegetables.

Listeria fears have sparked a new recall of fresh and frozen packaged vegetables. Photo: Getty

If you have a packet of Black & Gold’s mixed vegetables in your freezer, you should throw it away immediately.

This is the official advice from the Australian food standards authority, which has announced an urgent recall of the product.

Food Standards Australia NZ believes the product is a food safety hazard due to listeria concerns.

“Listeria may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems,” it said.

All Black & Gold one-kilogram mixed vegetable products – fresh and frozen – sold at IGA, Campbells Wholesale and independent grocery stores in Victoria, Tasmania and NSW are affected by the recall, regardless of their use-by date.

Mixed-vegetables-black-and-gold

The recalled product. Photo: FSANZ

A FSANZ spokeswoman said consumers should check their freezer for the products and dispose of them or return them to where they bought them for a refund.

“Any consumers concerned about their health should see a health professional,” she said.

IGA owner Metcash told The New Daily that anyone who bought the vegetable products could return them to where they were purchased to receive a full refund, or call 1300 135 690 for more information.

The recall comes five months after a major listeria outbreak in Australian rockmelons that killed six people, and just one month after a national recall of frozen vegetables from Australia’s largest supermarkets due to similar listeria concerns.

Black & Gold’s mixed vegetables were also part of this previous recall.

What is listeria?

Listeria is a type of bacteria found widely in the environment that rarely causes serious illness for most people.

However, for vulnerable people – such as those aged over 70, pregnant women, and people with diabetes, cancer or suppressed immune systems –it can be extremely serious or even life-threatening.

Early signs of listeriosis include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, and sometimes diarrhoea. Symptoms can take a few days or as long as six weeks to appear after eating the contaminated produce.

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.