Three patients have died despite hospitals being warned THREE YEARS AGO that pre-packed sandwiches could kill them.
The Sunday People discovered the 2016 alert following the latest outbreak of deadly listeria from poisonous sarnies served on wards.
Three more patients are seriously ill after they caught the bug from chicken salad sandwiches last month.
But food scientists warned three years ago that hospital sarnies were ideal breeding grounds for listeria because the food was…
STORED in fridges that were not cold enough.
LEFT on trolleys on warm wards for lengthy periods before being served.
PAST its use-by-date.
Former Lib Dem health minister Norman Lamb said last night: “It’s scandalous that a clear warning has gone unheeded for so long.”
(Image: Getty Images/Universal Images Gr)
And Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “Because of cuts too many trusts are offering sandwiches and soups as a meal option. That’s simply not good enough.
“Given there were warnings three years ago about the listeria risks of pre packed sandwiches it’s urgent ministers outline what action was taken in response to these findings.”
Food safety company STS was commissioned by the Food Standards Agency in 2016 to carry out a report into the dangers of pre-packed sandwiches at hospitals and care homes.
(Image: Getty)
It found the sandwiches had been responsible for almost all hospital outbreaks of listeria since 2003.
The report’s author Fiona Sinclair said: “Hospitals and care homes feed the most vulnerable people in society.
“The last thing these people need is to get something else on top of their illness.”
The research, undertaken with Surrey University, identified nine hospital listeria outbreaks across the UK since 2003. Each case affected between two and seven patients but it was unclear whether anyone died.
The latest outbreak was revealed on Friday. Six people were diagnosed with a serious listeria infection between April 25 and May 15.
Two have since died at hospitals run by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and one at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool.
(Image: Getty)
An immediate investigation was launched after hospital staff raised suspicions on May 24 that the sandwiches could be to blame. Sandwiches and salads were withdrawn from sale the following day.
By June 2, preliminary tests suggested the strain had originated from sarnies supplied by The Good Food Chain to 43 hospital trusts. This was confirmed on June 5.
The firm produces sandwiches named Good & Proper, including a chicken and mayonnaise on seeded wholemeal billed as 100 per cent homemade.
The business was supplied with meat produced by North Country Cooked Meats, which since tested positive for the outbreak strain of listeria and also stopped production.
(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
Former government advisor Professor Tim Lang said: “This is shocking. Why are we outsourcing sandwiches for NHS hospitals?” Prof Lang, of the University of London’s Centre for Food Policy, added: “Local environmental health departments have been drastically cut and there aren’t so many food inspectors. Corners are being cut and inspections aren’t being done.”
Dr Nick Phin, deputy director at the National Infection Service at Public Health England, said: “We have worked quickly to determine the likely cause of this outbreak and taken action to reduce the risk to the public’s health. Any risk to the public is low.”
Sandwich supplier says he is a victim too
By TRACEY KANDOHLA
The boss of the company that supplied the deadly sarnies offered his sympathy to victims last night but also moaned: “I’m a victim too.”
Martyn Corfield, director of The Good Food Chain, said he is considering suing Salford-based North Country Cooked Meats who are believed to have provided his firm with contaminated products.
The 50-year-old dad-of-one said: “My sincere thoughts are with the families affected. I feel for them because I have been through it, I’ve been bereaved and I’m empathetic to them.
“But I’m very angry too because we are a victim as much as anyone else. We have worked with this supplier for some years and now I have chosen voluntarily to close down my business while an investigation is ongoing.”
Mr Corfield employs 140 people, who have been laid off.
He said: “I am paying them an enhanced pay during this time. I need to look after my work force and there’s lots of people’s livelihoods and families at stake.”
Mr Corfield vowed to restart the business, based in Stone, Staffs, as soon as the investigation has concluded.
And he said he was still proud of the sarnies he makes, saying: “I would still eat my sandwiches and I always have done, and I give them to my daughter.”
He added: “We make sure our food is checked to the highest standard.
“I’m very angry but I’m having to keep a level head and deal with it appropriately.
“I am working with the authorities.”
