Chicken sandwiches and wraps have been pulled off supermarket shelves after concerns the meat was infected with salmonella.
Aldi, Sainbury's, M&S, Waitrose and Co-op issued a "do not eat" warning after chicken products and chicken snacks were taken off menus.
The alarm was first raised yesterday (Thursday May 12) by the Food Standards Agency and the alert updated today.
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The national food industry regulator has published a long list of recalled items, including product details, on its website.
It stated: "Cranswick Country Foods are recalling several products containing chicken because salmonella has been found in some of the chicken used to manufacture these products."
The Food Standards Agency added: "As a precaution additional products are also being recalled whilst investigations continue."
The regulator has also outlined salmonella symptoms to look out and offered other advice to the public on how to protect themselves and their families.
It said: "Symptoms caused by salmonella usually include fever, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramps."
"Action taken by the company Cranswick Country Foods is recalling the above products. Point-of-sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the above products."
Cranswick Country Foods supplies chicken products and snacks to the likes of Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Amazon and the Co-op.
The firm also prepares snacks for Costa Coffee and Starbucks cafes, and One Stop convenience stores across the UK. Costa Coffee have been seen to add warnings regarding their chicken sandwiches today.
You can see the full list, including products from Amazon, Waitrose, Aldi and Sainsbury's here.
The Agency also provides some useful information on what causes salmonella food poisoning.
What is salmonella?
As the FSA state: "Salmonellas are a group of common bacteria that cause food poisoning. They are usually spread by inadequate cooking and through cross-contamination."
Salmonella bacteria are most often found in:
- Raw meat
- Undercooked poultry such as chicken or turkey
- Eggs
- Unpasteurised milk
Children, those over 65 and those who are immunocompromised are at higher risk of becoming severely ill.
What are the symptoms of salmonella food poisoning?
According to the NHS website, there are several things to look out for. However, it stresses that food poisoning is rarely serious and usually gets better in a week. It is most commonly treated at home.
Symptoms include:
- Feeling sick or experiencing nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach cramps
- A high temperature that is 38C or above
- Feeling tired or having aches and chills
The symptoms usually start within a few days of eating the food that caused the infection. Sometimes, however, they can start after just a few hours, or after a few weeks, warns the NHS.
How to treat diarrhoea and vomiting
The most important thing, according to the NHS, is to have "lots of fluids to avoid dehydration". The website outlines a series of 'dos' and 'don'ts'.
The things to do include:
Stay at home and get plenty of rest
Drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash – take small sips if you feel sick
Eat when you feel able to – you do not need to eat or avoid any specific foods
Take paracetamol if you're in discomfort – check the leaflet before giving it to your child
Things you should not do include:
Drinking fruit juice or fizzy drinks as they can make it worse
Giving children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea
Giving aspirin to children under 16
How to reduce the risk of salmonella poisoning
To reduce the risk of falling ill due to salmonella, it is important to keep food at the correct temperature, clean fruit or veg before cooking and avoid cross-contamination.
It’s also important to remember never to drink untreated water from lakes, rivers or streams.
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
- After contact with pets and other animals
