Fresh produce supplier Prepworld is recalling fruit products from five of the UK’s largest retailers due to the possible presence of salmonella.
SKUs with use-by dates of 23 or 24 June across Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, M&S and Sainsbury’s have been affected, according to a Food Standards Agency alert released on 23 June, after “testing identified salmonella in apple and kiwi used in the products”.
The products dated 23 June include Tesco Kiwi Fruit Pot (100g), Tesco Fruit Kebabs (290g), Tesco Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry (125g), Asda Pink Lady Apple, Mango, Strawberry & Blueberry (220g), Sainsbury’s Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry (220g), Sainsbury’s Orange & Kiwi (240g) and Sainsbury’s Pink Lady Apple & Grape (240g).
The products dated 24 June include Tesco Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry (125g), Tesco Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry (250g), Asda Pink Lady Apple, Mango, Strawberry & Blueberry (220g), M&S Pink Lady Apple Slices (225g), M&S (FTG) Pink Lady Apple (90g) M&S Café Pink Lady Apple (90g), Morrisons Kiwi, Melon & Strawberries (220g).
Speaking to The Grocer, a spokeswoman for Prepworld apologised to customers and members of the public who had purchased the products. However, she insisted the company operated “the highest food safety and hygiene standards, this includes regular testing and surveillance”.
She said routine testing detected salmonella in one apple and one kiwi sample, but both retested negative. It was as a precaution, and in co-ordination with retailers and the FSA, that Prepworld recalled all products containing the fruit.
“As soon as the first result was received, we took swift action to inform our customers and initiate a full investigation,” the spokeswoman continued. “We are conducting further testing which includes a full traceability assessment and an independent audit of our testing laboratories.”
She added: “There has been no evidence of salmonella in any further testing to date. We will keep our retail partners and the FSA informed and updated as the full investigation is conducted.”
The FSA has advised customers who have bought any of the recalled products to not eat them and return them to the store from where they purchased them from for a full refund.
But, if people have experienced common salmonella symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps, the FSA said they should stay away from work, school, or nursery until they have ceased for “at least 48 hours, to avoid passing it on to others”.
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