An Australian man is believed to have died after contracting a strain of listeria that forced the recall of frozen vegetables at Woolworths, Aldi and IGA.
The Victorian, who died in February, had come into contact with a similar bacteria that was circulating in Europe, his state’s health department said.
This prompted the recall this week of 10 frozen vegetable products manufactured in central and western Europe.
An Australian man is believed to have died after contracting a strain of listeria that forced the recall of frozen vegetables at Woolworths, Aldi and IGA
Victoria’s Department of Health said the man who died had contracted the same strain of listeria that had been linked to frozen vegetables in Europe.
However, they said it was too early to tell if he had consumed frozen vegetables that have been recalled.
‘Unfortunately, the Victorian case who was being treated for another serious illness died earlier this year,’ the department said today.
‘So it is not possible to confirm whether this person actually consumed any of the frozen vegetable products.
‘The family has requested that no further details be released.’
Victoria’s Department of Health said the man who died had contracted the same strain of listeria that had been linked to frozen vegetables in Europe
An urgent frozen vegetable recall was this week ordered in Australia, but foods made by the same company were pulled off U.K. shelves days earlier.
The recall affects food products made by Belgium-based company Greenyard Frozen and sold at Woolworths, Aldi and IGA.
Fears of listeria contamination, which is potentially fatal, prompted the Monday recall, which followed a similar move in the UK last week.
Contaminated food has been linked to nine deaths and 47 cases of illness across Europe, with the suspect products traced to a plant in Hungary.
Listeriosis is an illness usually caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The bacteria can grow in food at refrigeration temperatures.
Although uncommon, it can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
Black & Gold Corn Kernels 500g and Gold Mixed Vegetables 1kg Carrots, peas, beans & corn (left) are both being recalled at IGA. Market Fare Peas, Carrots and Super Sweet Corn 1kg, Market Fare Corn Kernels 1kg, Market Fare Mixed Vegetables 1kg and Market Fare Quick Steam Carrot Broccoli and Cauliflower 450g are all being recalled at Aldi (right)
The factory in Baja in the country’s south was allowed to continue supplying shops despite problems with listeria contamination dating back to 2016.
Hungarian authorities shut the plant on June 29, issuing a recall for products made between August 2016 and June 2018.
The UK Food Standards Agency then recalled 43 products on July 6, adding to the list on July 9.