Sainsbury’s recalls watercress

thatguy1

http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2013/sep/sainsbury-ecoli#.UjISDcaa1IE

Sainsbury’s is recalling all of its bagged watercress and salads containing watercress as a precautionary measure, due to a possible association with an outbreak of E.coli O157 that has made 15 people ill.

• by Sainsbury’s Watercress Leaves, 75g
• by Sainsbury’s Watercress, Spinach and Rocket salad, 100g
• by Sainsbury’s Watercress, Spinach and Rocket, 170g
• by Sainsbury’s Watercress twin pack, 2 x 35g
• So Organic Watercress, 75g
• So Organic Watercress, Spinach and Rocket, 100g
• 'Use by' dates: all date codes

No other Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd products are known to be affected.

The supermarket is advising people not to consume any of these products and to return them to the store they were purchased from for a full refund.

Investigations by the Food Standards Agency, Public Health England and local authorities are continuing and further information will be provided once it becomes available.

Sainsbury's has informed the FSA that it is carrying out testing on all of its affected lines, but that no trace of E.coli O157 has been detected to date.

Edwardia

Having had e.coli 0157 from salad in a pub, I have to say it's not pleasant and I ended up in hospital for a week with several days on a drip

So well done Sainsbury's for recalling and if you have any please take back !

stephen77

I wonder why its organic and non-organic as I thought they would have come different farms. well unless if they have surpluss organic watercress they use it non-organic lines.

A._Badger

stephen77 wrote: »

I wonder why its organic and non-organic as I thought they would have come different farms. well unless if they have surpluss organic watercress they use it non-organic lines.

Watercress is a vulnerable product that depends on the quality of the running water in which it grows. I wasn't aware that non 'organic' fertilisers were used in watercress production but assuming they are, then a farm might have one water supply which feeds two production systems - one 'organic' one conventional. The chances are that something happened to that water supply upstream.

Edwardia

Or it might be that the washing plant fell over. I once bought some Sainsbury's SO organic spinach and found that it was really muddy though supposedly washed.

Teahfc

Same supplier for a few retailers, JS being too cautious ? Other retailers have not withdrawn.

Edwardia

There's a reason why supermarkets use code letters/numbers to denote suppliers rather than Joe Bloggs, Rundown Farm, Cheapshire.

Organic farms are often named though.

gnvqsos

A._Badger wrote: »

Watercress is a vulnerable product that depends on the quality of the running water in which it grows. I wasn't aware that non 'organic' fertilisers were used in watercress production but assuming they are, then a farm might have one water supply which feeds two production systems - one 'organic' one conventional. The chances are that something happened to that water supply upstream.

Many chalk streams are now dry so impure water is used more often in the Meon valley.Most cress needs no fertiliser at all.

A._Badger

gnvqsos wrote: »

Many chalk streams are now dry so impure water is used more often in the Meon valley.Most cress needs no fertiliser at all.

That's an interesting comment. I wasn't going to mention the lack of need for a fertiliser because it opens a can of worms. Seeing as you have, just what it is it that distinguishes 'organic' from 'conventional' when it comes to watercress? If it is just the origin of the seed it is a pretty fine distinction. I wonder what the price premium is?

geordie_joe

gnvqsos wrote: »

Most cress needs no fertiliser at all.

But if you add it you get a bigger crop.

geordie_joe

A._Badger wrote: »

I wasn't going to mention the lack of need for a fertiliser

No plants need added fertiliser, as in they can survive without it. They usually grow bigger/better if it is added.

Not needed does not mean not used.