tesco fruit recall salmonella: supermarket withdraws mixed fruit packs after contamination detected
Tesco has removed specific pre-cut fruit packs from sale after routine testing found Salmonella contamination, triggering a public health alert and a consumer recall. The retailer urged customers who bought affected products not to eat them and to follow instructions for returns or disposal.
What’s been recalled and why
The recall covers a limited range of chilled, pre-cut fruit packs sold in selected stores. Health authorities identified Salmonella in laboratory tests on samples taken from a batch of mixed fruit, prompting the immediate withdrawal. The move affects only clearly identified product descriptions and batch codes; stores have been instructed to remove remaining stock from shelves and to quarantine unsold items.
Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause foodborne illness. Public health teams are investigating how the contamination occurred, checking supply-chain points including processing facilities and distribution centres. Retailers have also launched internal checks and extra sanitation measures while authorities complete trace-back work to pinpoint the source.
Advice for shoppers and public health response
Customers who purchased the listed packs should not eat them. The safest options are to return the product to the place of purchase for a refund or to dispose of it securely. Anyone who has already eaten the fruit and feels unwell should consider contacting a healthcare professional, particularly if symptoms are severe or if they belong to higher-risk groups such as infants, older adults, pregnant people, or those with weakened immune systems.
Typical symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, fever and vomiting, which usually appear within 6 to 72 hours of exposure. Most people recover within a week without specific treatment, but dehydration or high fever may require medical care. Healthcare services should be contacted promptly if symptoms are severe or persistent.
Public health officials are conducting case-finding to identify any linked illnesses and are advising clinical teams to consider recent consumption of the recalled products when assessing patients with gastroenteritis. Retail staff are being briefed on handling returns and on providing information to concerned customers.
Timeline, impact and what to watch for
The product withdrawal was announced on the day authorities confirmed positive test results; stores implemented the recall the same day and began removing affected stock. Investigators are working through the supply chain to determine whether contamination occurred at a packing facility, during transport, or at another point before the fruit reached stores.
For shoppers, the immediate action is to check packaging for listed product names and batch information. Notices at store entrances and on in-store information points should explain which packs are affected. Customers unable to locate packaging details can enquire with store staff for guidance.
Authorities will update guidance as their investigation progresses, including any expansions to the recall if more batches are implicated. Retailers have said they are cooperating with investigators and have increased testing on similar products as a precaution.
Keeping chilled fruit at the recommended temperature, eating perishable items promptly after purchase, and following hygiene best practices in the kitchen remain key steps to reduce risk. Anyone with concerns about potential exposure should seek medical advice and report suspected foodborne illness through the appropriate public health channels.
