Frozen vegetables pulled from shelves in Woolworths, ALDI, IGA amid listeria fears

Fears over the deadly listeria strain of bacteria have sparked a recall of popular frozen vegetable products from supermarket shelves across Australia.

Belgium-based company Greenyard Frozen Belgium NV has recalled the frozen vegetables – which include frozen corn, carrot, broccoli and mixed vegetable bags – from Woolworths, IGA and ALDI stores.

For a full list of the recalled frozen vegetables, see the list below.

There are concerns that the products may be contaminated with listeria, a potentially deadly food-borne bacteria.

A number of brand names are affected by the recall, including Woolworths homebrand and IGA Black & Gold mixed vegetable and corn kernel products.

The NSW Government’s Food Authority confirmed the recall in a statement this afternoon.

“Listeria may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems,” the Food Authority said.

The recall comes after a number of listeria deaths in Europe in the past three years.

The European Food Safety Authority said there had been nine deaths among 47 cases of listeria since an outbreak in 2015, the ABC reported.

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It is the latest in a string of recalls affecting major retailers.

In February, contaminated rockmelons from a New South Wales rockmelon farm resulted in six deaths in NSW and Victoria and just last month, 21 people in South Australia were struck down with salmonella poisoning linked to alfalfa sprouts.

Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products are being urged to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

LIST OF RECALLED FROZEN VEGETABLE PRODUCTS

Woolworths:

- Essential snap frozen mixed veg (1kg): Carrots, peas, corn, green beans & potatoes – Best Before March 19, 2020-April 24, 2020

- Bell Farms Steam Veggie Carrot, corn and broccoli (3 pack, 450g)

Metcash (IGA):

- Black & Gold Corn Kernels – all Best Before dates

- Black & Gold Mixed Vegetables (1kg): Carrots, peas, beans & corn – all Best Before dates

ALDI:

- Market Fare Peas, Carrots and Super Sweet Cork (1kg)

- Market Fare Corn Kernels (1kg) in QLD, VIC, WA and select NSW stores – product of Hungary only

- Market Fare Mixed Vegetables (1kg) in QLD, NSW, ACT, WA – packed in Belgium from imported and Belgium ingredients only

- Market Fare Quick Steam Carrot, Broccoli and Cauliflower (450g)

- Market Fare Quick Steam Carrot, Corn and Broccoli (450g)

Only ALDI products with country of origin Belgium, Hungary or the United Kingdom are affected by the recall.