The scratchings, produced at the manufacturer’s Bolton factory, have been pulled from sale after reports of people falling ill with diarrhoea, vomiting and fever caused by eating the products. At least 12 people have been reported to have been hospitalised as a result.
Tayto has taken the precautionary step of recalling some of its products, because they may be contaminated with salmonella. Production was voluntary halted at the factory once a possible link was identified.
Established link
Dr Lesley Larkin, surveillance lead, Gastrointestinal Pathogens Unit at Public Health England, said: “We have established a link between the 176 cases based on the analysis of data obtained through whole genome sequencing and epidemiological investigations.
“These investigations, together with those carried out by local authorities, have indicated the source of infection is pork scratchings produced by a single company in the UK. The Food Standards Agency has acted on these findings to mitigate any further risk to public health from the contaminated food.”
The recall applied to products across three of Tayto’s ranges – Mr Porky, Jay’s and The Real Pork Crackling Company – with best before dates up to and including 19 February 2022. Full details of the recalls can be found in the box below.
Precautionary recall
Commenting on the recall, a spokesman for the manufacturer said: “The safety of our products is of the utmost importance at Tayto Group which is why we have taken the decision to initiate a precautionary recall for some products from our Mr Porky, Jays and Real Pork Crackling Company ranges, produced at our Westhoughton factory.
“We are working closely with the local Environmental Health team and the Food Standards Agency at this time. Production will only recommence when all the necessary checks have been completed.”
Customers that may have bought these products were advised not to eat them and to instead return them to the store they were bought from to receive a full refund.
Meanwhile, up to half of all food and drink recalls could be prevented by avoiding ‘never events’, easily preventable packaging and labelling mistakes that trigger an allergen related recall, management consultancy RQA has claimed.
