Source- FSA UK

Three people have died in an ongoing Listeria outbreak linked to fish in the United Kingdom.

The UKHSA, Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland are investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to smoked fish.

Food Safety Authority of the UK advised that,due to an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to smoked fish, we are reminding people who are vulnerable to Listeria infection – including people who are pregnant and people with weakened immune systems – of the risks in consuming smoked fish and asking them to make sure that the smoked fish is always thoroughly cooked including when served as part of a dish before they eat it.

FSA UK working closely with UK partners across the government to ensure that this advice is as clear as possible – members of the public do not need to avoid these products but should ensure risks are reduced as far as possible.

“ According to Tina Potter FSA head of the incidents advised consumers that, the public do not need to avoid smoked fish products can use these products by keeping chilled ready-to-eat smoked fish, cold (5⁰C or below), always using products by their use-by date, following the storage and usage instructions on the label, and cooking or reheating smoked fish until it is piping hot right through.”

Twelve patients across the UK have been identified, including three in Scotland, with onset dates of illness between October 2020 to March 2022.

Ten sick people are over the age of 65, and one is a pregnant woman. Three of those affected who are older than 65 have died.

Six people have fallen ill since January 2022. The majority of patients reported eating smoked fish. 

The FSA and FSS are doing food chain and microbiological investigations, including whole-genome sequencing (WGS) but the cause is yet to be confirmed.  Whole-genome sequencing analysis has identified an outbreak of 12 linked cases of listeriosis since 2020, with six of these since January 2022. Cases have been identified in England and Scotland. The majority of these individuals reported eating smoked fish. One case was a person who was a pregnant woman.

This contamination could be particularly unsafe for people who are vulnerable to Listeria infection – including people who are pregnant and people with certain underlying conditions or who are taking medications that can weaken the immune system.

Listeria is a bacterium that causes an illness called listeriosis. It is widespread in the environment and can contaminate a range of food at low or standard refrigeration temperatures. It can be destroyed by thorough cooking. It is of most concern in chilled, ready-to-eat foods that do not require further cooking, such as smoked fish.

Most people won’t have any symptoms of the infection or will only experience mild symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, which usually pass within a few days without the need for treatment. People who are pregnant are at increased risk of developing listeriosis, which can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe illness in their newborn babies. More serious infections such as severe sepsis and meningitis can develop in those with weakened immune systems or those over 65 years of age.

Listeria is of concern in chilled, ready-to-eat foods that do not require further cooking, such as smoked fish.

Information for people who are pregnant has been updated to advise that they thoroughly cook smoked fish before eating it. Smoked fish has also been listed as a high-risk product that should be thoroughly cooked before being eaten by anyone in a high-risk group.