The supermarket has urged people not to eat the items as they could contain a deadly bacteria
Sainsbury’s has withdrawn two varieties of its own-brand hummus from sale after concerns they could make customers ill. There are fears that specific batches of the dips might be contaminated with a dangerous strain of E.coli..
The warning was published by the Food Standards Agency on Friday evening (September 12). The supermarket’s own-label products, including two varieties of hummus, are being removed from shelves “as a precautionary step”.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issues product recalls for various reasons, such as when items contain undeclared allergens or when foreign objects like plastic are discovered in food, reports the Mirror. When any product faces recall, the FSA provides guidance on what customers should do if they’ve purchased the affected item, alongside comprehensive details explaining why it’s been withdrawn from sale.
On this occasion, Sainsbury’s has been forced to remove its JS Classic Hummus and JS Lemon and Coriander Hummus due to potential contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC).
An FSA spokesperson declared: “The products listed above might be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Symptoms caused by this organism include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea, and haemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal.”
The products in question have a use-by date of 13 September 2025 for the Classic flavour and 14 September 2025 for the Lemon and Coriander variant. Customers can identify the affected houmous by checking the batch codes on the packaging, which are 8001352 for Classic and 8062998 for Lemon and Coriander.
Customers can return any recalled houmous to their local Sainsbury’s store for a full refund, with no receipt necessary. Sainsbury’s will display point of sale notices in all stores selling these products until 3 October 2025.
So, what are the symptoms of this type of E. coli poisoning?
According to the UK Health Security Agency, those infected with STEC may experience a combination of three symptoms.
- Diarrhoea (about 50% of cases have bloody diarrhoea)
- Stomach cramps
- Fever
In uncomplicated cases, symptoms can last up to two weeks. However, there is a risk of developing haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure, in some instances.
There is no specific treatment for STEC infection, and it usually clears up within a week. It’s recommended to drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea can cause dehydration. Antibiotics are not advised as they could increase the risk of complications such as HUS.
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