A Listeria warning has been issued to vulnerable people amid an ongoing outbreak which has seen people who have eaten 'ready to eat' smoked fish become ill. Lidl recently recalled their 'Eridanous Greek Style Smoked Mackerel Fillet' because Listeria monocytogenes has been found in the product.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are urging people who are over the age of 65, are pregnant or have weakened immune systems to make sure that ready to eat smoked fish is thoroughly cooked before they eat it - even though these products are not normally cooked at home before being eaten. This is because of an ongoing outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes which is particularly unsafe for those who are susceptible to Listeria infection.
An investigation has identified 14 linked cases of listeriosis since 2020 in England and Scotland, with eight of these happening since January this year. The majority of the individuals who became unwell had reported eating ready to eat smoked fish and one person affected was a pregnant woman.
