NHS staff have been advised to remove all Cool Delight Desserts products from service and sales as a precautionary measure following the death of three people linked to a listeria outbreak.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Food Standards Agency (FSA) are investigating five cases of Listeria monocytogenes infection linked to the same strain of bacteria found in mousses supplied to NHS hospitals and care homes.
According to The Independent, the cases were identified between May and December 2024 and involved individuals aged 68 to 89 from North West England, Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands, and Wales.
All affected individuals reportedly had underlying immunocompromising health conditions and were hospitalised.
While one death has been directly attributed to listeria, the other two were known to be infected at the time of their deaths.
Food alert issued
While the UKHSA has not yet confirmed the cause of the outbreak, they have identified a potential link to a particular type of dessert, which is served in some NHS Trusts.
The bacteria were detected in chocolate and vanilla and strawberry and vanilla flavoured mousse from Cool Delight Desserts last month. Both food samples were collected from an NHS hospital in the Southwest region of England, as part of their routine surveillance.
Although the detected levels were below the legal regulatory threshold, the FSA has issued an alert to recall all products under the brand (including ice cream, ice cream rolls, mousses and yoghurts) from health care settings as a precaution.
The alert received by the West Midlands Care Association cited the potential risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination in these products.
“These products must all be withdrawn from service, and placed in quarantine while investigations are ongoing,” it said.
Where affected products have been received by a healthcare setting are required to confirm that the products have been withdrawn from service and when.
“Working with the Food Standards Agency, on a precautionary basis, we have advised NHS Trusts and those providing care to vulnerable people to stop serving these desserts while investigations are underway,” Dr Gauri Godbole, deputy director for gastrointestinal infections, food safety and one health at UKHSA told the publication.
Tina Potter, head of incidents at the FSA, confirmed that the affected desserts are currently being removed from the supply chain while investigations continue.
She said that the supplier is conducting a product withdrawal as a precaution while the cause of contamination is being investigated.
In rare cases, listeria can lead to serious complications such as meningitis and sepsis.Getty Images
Understand listeria
Listeria is a foodborne bacterium that causes listeriosis, a rare infection. In healthy adults and children, it typically results in mild or no symptoms. However, certain individuals are at a higher risk of developing severe illness, known as invasive listeriosis.
Dr Godbole warned that while most people with listeriosis experience mild symptoms such as diarrhoea, the infection can be severe or life-threatening in vulnerable individuals, including:
- Immunocompromised patients
- Older adults (65+)
- Pregnant women and their unborn babies
- Newborns up to one month old
Listeriosis symptoms can be similar to flus and may include:
- High fever
- Muscle aches and pains
- Chills
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
In rare cases, listeria can lead to serious complications such as meningitis and sepsis.
Listeria is commonly found in the environment and can contaminate various foods, but it is most prevalent in ready-to-eat items.
A representative from Cool Delight Desserts told Food Safety News that the company was in ongoing discussions regarding the matter.
Meanwhile, the FSA, UKHSA, NHS and local authorities are working together to identify the cause of the outbreak.
