Vulnerable people have been warned against certain foods after a rare bacteria was linked to 28 deaths. According to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data, rare listeriosis infections were almost a fifth higher than levels before the pandemic, with 179 reported cases in England and Wales in 2024, including 28 deaths.
The infection is contracted by eating listeria-contaminated food, and the health agency explained certain foods carry a higher risk, including soft cheeses, pate, smoked fish, chilled sliced meats and other chilled ready-to-eat products. Symptoms normally include a fever, aches and pains, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, according to the NHS, but it can be life-threatening to the vulnerable.
The UKHSA highlighted that the elderly, very young babies, pregnant women, and those with a weakened immune system are generally most at risk.
Vanessa Wong, UKHSA Consultant in gastrointestinal infections, said: “Listeriosis is a rare infection and most people only experience mild symptoms of gastroenteritis that usually pass within a few days without the need for treatment.
“However, severe listeriosis is more likely to affect the elderly, very young babies, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system.
“The best way to prevent listeriosis is to practise good food hygiene and avoid high-risk foods if you are in a vulnerable group.”
Foods that carry a greater risk of Listeria include: soft cheeses, pâté, smoked fish, chilled sliced meats and other chilled ready-to-eat products.
The NHS added that high-risk foods also include pre-prepared sandwiches and salads, pre-cut fruit, and dairy products made from unpasteurised milk.
It wrote on its website: “These foods do not always contain listeria. If you have eaten them recently, you do not need to do anything unless you get symptoms of the infection.”