Supermarket Issues Urgent Recall of Chicken Product Over Food Poisoning Fears
A major supermarket chain, Asda, has issued an urgent recall of its own-brand chicken breast slices due to concerns over incorrect use-by dates. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published an alert regarding the affected product, which was found to have been packaged with an incorrect use-by date.
The recall affects Asda’s Hot and Spicy chicken breast slices, weighing 160g, with a use-by date of May 30 this year. Asda has advised customers to return the product to their nearest store for a full refund. "If you have purchased Asda hot and spicy chicken breast slices with a use by date of the 30 May, please bring it back to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund," the supermarket stated. "We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused."
The FSA issues recalls when problems are spotted with food that means it should not be sold. In this case, the regulator has stated that point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product, explaining to customers why the product is being recalled and what to do if they have bought the product.
This recall comes as concerning new research suggests a potentially lethal food poisoning bug found in chicken could be driving a surge in late-stage colon cancer cases. According to a study by experts in China and Florida, a common strain of the bacteria, campylobacter jejuni, may put the public at higher risk of developing colon cancer. While the research could not prove that the bug is directly responsible for rising rates of the disease, researchers said it may contribute to the progression of colon cancer by causing DNA damage.
The study’s findings are supported by other research, which suggests that regularly eating chicken could double your risk of dying from 11 different types of cancer, including colon and stomach cancer. Italian scientists found that those who consumed over 300g of poultry – equivalent to about four portions – per week, had double the risk of dying from a digestive cancer, compared to those who eat less than one portion of poultry per week.
Food safety experts have long identified ready-to-eat chicken as a common source of bacterial contamination. This is because any bacteria not killed off in the cooking process will remain on the meat, as consumers rarely re-heat it to destroy remaining bugs. Following an outbreak of salmonella in 2022, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control concluded that over 69 per cent of UK patients had eaten ready-to-eat chicken products within a week of experiencing symptoms – including diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps.
Professor Hugh Pennington, a microbiologist who has investigated multiple food poisoning outbreaks on behalf of the UK government, said: "An infective dose of salmonella is usually high. So for it to be present in ready-to-eat products in amounts capable of causing an infection suggests something wrong in their production."
In the UK, supermarkets have to share the proportion of their raw chickens that have more than 1,000 colony-forming units per gram (CFU/g) of campylobacter. At this level, chickens are considered contaminated and carry a higher risk of food poisoning. The FSA estimates that campylobacter costs the economy some £900million a year in terms of NHS treatment and lost days at work.
To avoid food poisoning, people should make sure they cook chicken thoroughly, separate meat from other foods, keep it in the fridge and wash their hands and utensils after touching raw meat, according to the FSA. Chicken should also not be washed because it may splash bacteria elsewhere in the kitchen, it added.
The Daily Mail has reported on the recall and the research into the link between chicken and colon cancer. The article, which can be found at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14662985/supermarket-issues-recall-chicken-food-poisoning-bowel-cancer.html, provides further information on the recall and the research into the link between chicken and colon cancer.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the FSA is taking steps to ensure that consumers are aware of the risks associated with food poisoning and the steps they can take to prevent it. The article provides further information on the FSA’s guidelines for handling and cooking chicken safely.
In conclusion, the recall of Asda’s chicken breast slices highlights the importance of food safety and the need for consumers to be aware of the risks associated with food poisoning. The research into the link between chicken and colon cancer adds to the growing body of evidence that food safety is a critical public health issue. As the Daily Mail reports, it is essential that consumers take steps to protect themselves and their families from food poisoning.
