SAINSBURYS has recalled packs of nuts, fearing it could be contaminated with salmonella.
The bug, sometimes nicknamed ‘Spanish tummy’, can cause agonising stomach cramps, diarrhoea and fever.
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In rare instances, it can infect the urine, blood, bones, joints and nervous system and in severe cases results in reactive arthritis known as Reiter’s syndrome.
The supermarket issued a “do not eat” warning to anyone who bought packets of flaked almonds, which could create a nasty chain reaction.
The warning applies to 200g packets with a ‘best before’ date of February 2025, and batch code numbers 4044 and 4045.
Customers can return the product to their nearest store for a full refund, with or without a receipt.
Read more product recalls
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said no other products are affected by the recall, and they “apologised to customers for the inconvenience”.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) added: “Salmonella has been found in the product.
“If you have bought the product, do not eat it.”
Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause food poisoning, sometimes called salmonellosis.
Salmonella symptoms
It can affect anyone, but young children, people over the age of 65 and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill, according to the FSA.
The most common symptoms are:
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Fever
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- General tiredness
The NHS says these can last up to seven days but it can take some weeks to recover.
Rare complications include blood poisoning, abscesses and joint pain.
Reactive arthritis can also occur, which can last for years and be difficult to treat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Patients with a salmonella infection should drink plenty of water and contact their GP if symptoms are severe or they persist.
The NHS adds: “In most cases, it is generally advised to wait until 48 hours after having diarrhoea or sickness before returning to work or school/nursery.”
Salmonella is not usually fatal.
The NHS recorded 1,468 hospitalisations of people with the potentially deadly condition last year.
That’s the highest number ever recorded by the health service – nearly double the level seen a decade ago.
The FSA recently said it was investigating a recent rise in cases of salmonella food poisoning linked to poultry from Poland.
How to prevent Salmonella
HUMANS usually become infected with salmonella through contaminated water or food.
It is most commonly found in:
- Raw meat
- Undercooked poultry, like chicken or turkey
- Eggs
- Unpasteurised milk
But it can also spread by fruits, vegetables and shellfish when they become contaminated with animal and human faeces, as well as pets.
Thankfully, you can avoid most forms of food poisoning by following the four ‘C’s of food hygiene:
- Chilling
- Cleaning
- Cooking
- Avoiding cross-contamination
It’s also important not to drink untreated water from lakes, rivers or streams.
You should also always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before preparing or eating food, after handling raw foods, after going to the toilet, after changing a baby’s nappy, after touching bins, and after contact with animals.
Source: Food Standards Agency
