Morrisons recalls meat after E coli death
Tuesday, 14 Aug 2007 18:57
Morrisons said the withdrawal is a "precautionary" measure
Supermarket chain Morrisons has withdrawn sliced cold meat products from two of its Scottish stores after an elderly woman died following an E coli outbreak in the area.
Health officials have indicated that there may be a possible link between sliced cold meats bought at Morrisons' Lonend and Falside Road stores in Paisley, where the outbreak has occurred.
At a press conference this afternoon officials revealed that a further case of the deadly E coli 0157 infection had been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland, where a Paisley woman was taken to hospital after falling ill while on holiday.
Public health consultant Dr Syed Ahmed said that the woman had purchased cold meat from a delicatessen counter at one of the Morrisons' stores in the town.
Eight victims have so far been struck down by the dangerous E coli infection, including a 66-year woman who died as a result of contracting the bug and her 72-year-old husband, who has been described by health officials as being "seriously ill" in hospital.
But Dr Ahmed, chair of the local health board's outbreak control team, warned that it was "too early" to say whether further cases would emerge.
Although E coli is a common bug, some strains – including the 0157 strain – are potentially fatal. The incubation period for E coli 0157 can be as much as 14 days, with sufferers likely to experience symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever.
Speaking to reporters Dr Ahmed stressed that while there was "no conclusive evidence", cold cooked meat sold through the Morrisons stores under scrutiny was the "most likely" source of the current outbreak.
He added that no other food from Morrisons or elsewhere had been implicated so far and revealed that "extensive samples" from both the Paisley supermarkets had been sent to labs for analysis, with the results of tests expected by the end of this week.
Staff at delicatessen counters in the stores have also been interviewed by health officials, stressed Dr Ahmed – who emphasised that Morrisons had been "co-operating fully" with their investigations.
In a statement early today Britain's fourth largest grocer said it was "deeply saddened" to learn of the death of an elderly patient following the outbreak of E coli and was "working closely" with the authorities following the scare.
"Although the full facts are not yet known we have, as a precautionary measure, withdrawn sliced cold meat products from sale at the delicatessen counters of two stores in Paisley, Scotland," the supermarket chain confirmed.
"We advise anyone who has bought sliced cold meat products locally from the delicatessen counters in these two stores not to consume them."
