Food safety officials have issued urgent food recalls due to possible bacterial contamination in popular food items.
Multiple supermarket chains across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have been instructed to immediately remove specific batches of hummus and fresh herbs from shelves.
Meanwhile, to ensure their safety, shoppers who have purchased identified products must not consume them.
The contamination involves Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous bacterium that poses serious health risks.
Major retailers impacted include Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Lidl, Aldi, SuperValu, and Dunnes Stores.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed that contaminated products have been distributed in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The first product at risk is Tom & Ollie Traditional Hummus, manufactured in the UK. The affected batch carries code VG189 in 150g packaging, with an expiry date of August 8, 2025.
Authorities have ordered the immediate removal of this batch from all retail locations. Point-of-sale warning notices must be prominently displayed where the product is sold.
GETTY IMAGES
|Major retailers affected include Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Lidl, and Aldi
Distribution networks across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have been instructed to halt all sales and implement comprehensive recall procedures for affected stock.
A far more extensive recall affects potted coriander from O'Hanlon Herbs, an Irish producer whose products appear under various supermarket brands.
Several major retailers must remove contaminated herbs from their shelves immediately.
Tesco's own-brand Irish growing herbs require removal for dates spanning August 3 to August 9.
Marks & Spencer identified contaminated stock through codes 1J0608C1 and 1J0908C1.
GETTY IMAGES
|Bacterial infection from Listeria monocytogenes can manifest through flu-like symptoms
Lidl's affected batches carry codes L3104 through L3107, plus L3201. Meanwhile, Aldi's Egan's Irish Coriander faces a recall for products dated between August 5 and August 11.
SuperValu has recalled all batch codes of its Irish Coriander without exception.
Dunnes Stores must withdraw both standard and compostable varieties of O'Hanlon products.
Both Nolans and Mortons are subject to the recall for Irish Coriander Potted.
Officials warned that bacterial infection from Listeria monocytogenes can manifest through mild flu-like symptoms or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly.
The bacteria's incubation period typically spans three weeks, though symptoms might emerge anywhere from three to 70 days post-exposure.
The FSAI stressed that anyone who has these products at home must discard them immediately.
Further to this, catering establishments have received specific instructions to avoid using any implicated batches in food preparation.
There is currently no evidence that this food recall is linked with the listeriosis outbreak related to ready-to-heat meals or the recall of spinach and mixed leaves products.
Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, Neil Johnston, urged consumers to take immediate action.
"People who are immunocompromised run the risk of getting seriously ill, so everybody needs to take notice," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.
"The thing we all need to concentrate on now with consumers, retailers, and suppliers is to get this stuff out of the system and protect everybody."
He stressed the importance of discarding affected products or returning them to their place of purchase rather than consuming them.
Batch code: VG189
Use-by date: August 8, 2025
Best before date: August 5, 2025; August 6, 2025; August 7, 2025; August 8, 2025; August 9, 2025; August 10, 2025; August 11, 2025
Best before date: August 3, 2025; August 4, 2025; August 5, 2025; August 6, 2025; August 7, 2025; August 8, 2025; August 9, 2025
Display until date: August 3, 2025; August 5, 2025; August 6, 2025; August 7, 2025; August 8, 2025; August 9, 2025; August 10, 2025
Display until date: August 3, 2025; August 5, 2025; August 6, 2025; August 7, 2025; August 8, 2025; August 9, 2025; August 10, 2025
Batch code: 1J0608C1 and 1J0908C1
Batch code: L3104, L3105, L3106, L3107, L3201
Batch code: All