Salmonella poisonings prompt urgent product recall

Up to 176 people have fallen ill after eating a batch of pork scratchings believed to be contaminated with salmonella.

Tayto Group Ltd which manufactures Mr Porky products has issued an urgent food warning for six pork scratching products after Public Health England (PHE) found a link to 176 reported cases of salmonella poisoning.

Major UK supermarkets including Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Iceland stock Mr Porky snacks, the production of which has been halted at the factory linked to the outbreak. Retail stores across Clapham that have sold the specific products should have point of sale notices displayed.

Salmonella can spread from person to person and infection usually causes diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever. Symptoms can begin six hours to six days after infection and can last up to a week. The Sun reports at least 12 people have needed hospital treatment.

The products recalled are: Mr Porky Original Scratchings, Mr Porky Crispy Strips, Mr Porky Crackles, Mr Porky Prime Cut Scratchings, Jay's Pork Scratchings, The Real Pork Crackling Company Pork Crunch.

Tina Potter, Head of Incidents at the Food Standards Agency, said: "We are advising consumers not to eat any of the products listed in the FSA alert.

"It is really important that consumers follow this advice to avoid the risk of becoming ill with salmonella poisoning.

"The food business involved has voluntarily suspended its production to put additional controls in place to improve the safety of their products and they have decided on a voluntary basis to withdraw and recall all of the products within shelf-life produced at this site."

Dr Lesley Larkin, Surveillance Lead, Gastrointestinal Pathogens Unit at Public Health England, said: "We have established a link between the 176 cases based on the analysis of data obtained through whole genome sequencing and epidemiological investigations.

"These investigations, together with those carried out by local authorities, have indicated the source of infection is pork scratchings produced by a single company in the UK. The Food Standards Agency has acted on these findings to mitigate any further risk to public health from the contaminated food.

"Salmonella can be spread from person to person, so anyone affected should adhere to good hygiene practices including washing your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and avoiding handling food for others if you have symptoms.

Anybody with concerns that they have symptoms of salmonellosis should contact their GP or call NHS 111."

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