An investigation into a food poisoning outbreak widened tonight with some sandwich fillers being cleared from shelves at major retail chains.
Health chiefs fear the chicken and bacon sandwich mix may be contaminated with a rare strain of salmonella which has already struck down 100 people in Ireland and the UK.
They have urged anyone who bought the suspect own-brand fillers at Dunnes Stores and Supervalu or the O’Brien’s filler — sold by Tesco — to dump it and seek a refund.
The suspect chicken and bacon sandwich filler was packed in clear 170g tubs and had best before dates between August 13 to 18.
They were branded with Dunnes, Supervalu or O’Brien’s labels, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The health authority pointed out that sandwiches sold at the O’Brien’s sandwich retail chain were not affected by the scare.
The outbreak, which last week saw the massive sandwich chain Subway recall chicken and beef products, is believed to come from a factory in Ireland.
An FSAI inquiry into the highly unusual strain has led them back to a specific process line at the Dawn Farm Foods plant in Naas, Co Kildare.
“Around 100 people have been sick with this specific strain of Salmonella Agona since May,” said Alan Reilly, FSAI chief executive.
“It has a definite genetic fingerprint that is very unusual.”
Consumers who may have eaten the suspicious products and who feel unwell have been been advised to seek medical help.
Salmonella is a food borne disease and symptoms can include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever.
Wholesalers have also been warned about bacon pieces from the Dawn Farm Foods plant that may have been used as pizza toppings and ready-meal ingredients.
Mr Reilly demanded all food businesses look at the source of their ingredients and check them against products listed on the FSAI website.
“The investigation is ongoing,” he said.
The FSAI is working with several other health agencies in the Irish republic as well as their counterparts in the UK.
PA