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This is a huge story in the UK and demonstrates the opportunities for Biophage's LISTEX(TM) product:

Listeria risk in sandwiches
News Shopper, UK

SANDWICHES supplied to schools, businesses and hosptials across News Shopper's regions may have been contaminated with listeria.

The problem was identified by Ashford Council during routine sampling tests.

Food supplied to a range of establishments in Kent, Sussex, Essex, Middlesex, Surrey and London could be affected, says the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

There have been no reported cases of illness caused by the sandwiches, says the Health Protection Agency.

The affected sandwiches have a use-by date between February 21 to March 14.

The Ashford-based catering compnay has voluntarily suspended production and informed its customers of the problem.

These includes schools, businesses and hospitals across Gravesend, Dartford, Lewisham, Bromley, Abbey Wood and Beckenham.

Listeria does not pose a threat to most people but could be serious for vulnerable people, says Food Standards Agency chief scientist Dr Andrew Wadge.

He said: "Although the company took prompt action to notify customers and withdraw the product, large numbers of sandwiches may have been consumed before the problem was detected."

Symptoms of the listeria infection can take up to 90 days to appear.

The illness starts with a fever, a flu-like illness and diarrhoea.

An investigation has been launched to identify the source of contamination.

Online source:
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.1267538.0.listeria_risk_in_sandwiches.php