A UNIVERSITY of Reading professor has outlined the potential consequences of bacterial contamination after a dairy company was forced to recall some of its products.
Muller withdrew six Cadbury-branded desserts following concerns they could be contaminated with Listeria.
It is a bacterial which can contaminate foodstuffs, particularly those containing dairy.
Cases of Listeria-induced illnesses are rare, with between 100-200 cases recorded in the UK each year.
Dr Simon Clarke, University of Reading, said: “Generally, the classic food poisoning symptoms diarrhoea and/or vomiting are an indication of mild disease, but it can be much more serious than that.
“The pathogen can use our guts as a gateway to our bloodstream where in people with weakened immune systems, like cancer patients, the elderly and very young, it can spread to our organs, including the brain, which can be fatal.
“Unusually, it’s also one of the few bacteria that, when causing an infection, can cross the placenta and infect an unborn baby often causing lifelong disability if the infection is not fatal.”
An initial test is typically carried out, which gives an indicative result regarding the “possible presence” of Listeria.
Following this, a more detailed test can confirm Listeria and quantify the extent of the contamination.
“It is sensible to swiftly recall all the products that relate to the positive test sample, even before the presence of Listeria is completely confirmed,” he said.
“Listeria can cause serious disease and disability so putting public health first is the only ethical approach to the problem. If that is what has happened in this case, that is a good thing.”
