Cadbury products are being removed from stores across the United Kingdom due to listeria concerns. Customers who purchased products from these batches have been warned not to consume them and to return them for a refund. Listeriosis, a food-borne bacterial illness, is usually caused by consuming contaminated food with Listeria monocytogenes. Pregnant women and people over the age of 65 are most susceptible to the bacteria because it attacks the immune system.
UK’s Food Standards Agency cautions customers
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) of the UK is advising customers to check the expiration date of the products on their website. The FSA has issued a warning about Crunchie, Daim, Flake, Dairy Milk Buttons, and Dairy Milk Chunks 75g chocolate desserts, all of which are sold separately in supermarkets.
The Crunchie and Flake desserts have a use-by date of May 17, while the rest have a use-by date of May 18. The batches of chocolates are being recalled by supermarket chain Muller as a precautionary measure after contamination concerns were raised.
What is Listeria monocytogenes?
According to the Food and Drug Administrator of the UK, Listeria monocytogenes is “rare but very serious”. It said, “Symptoms caused by this organism can be similar to flu and include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling of being sick and diarrhoea.”
“Some people are more vulnerable to listeria infections, including those over 65 years of age, pregnant women and their unborn babies, babies less than one-month-old and people with weakened immune systems,” the statement added.
The severity of the signs and symptoms of Listeria infection varies depending on the infected individual and the part of the body affected. Meningitis is a serious complication that can occur in rare cases. If a pregnant woman contracts listeriosis, there is a risk of miscarriage.
List of Cadbury products being recalled
Six chocolate yoghurt products of Cadbury are being recalled. Here is the full list:
- Cadbury Crunchie Chocolate Dessert: pack size 75g and use by May 17, 2023
- Cadbury Flake Chocolate Dessert: pack size 75g and use by May 17, 2023
- Cadbury Daim Chocolate Dessert: pack size 75g and use by May 18, 2023
- Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons Chocolate Dessert: pack size 75g and use by May 18, 2023
- Cadbury Dairy Milk Chunks Chocolate Dessert: pack size 75g and use by May 18, 2023
- Cadbury Heroes Chocolate Dessert (six pack): pack size 6x75g and use by of May 18, 2023
