Food Safety Authority Issues Warning Over Pre-Packaged Sandwiches

Wednesday, 29 September 2010 10:45

Written by Noel Cotter

A study published today by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) to assess the microbiological safety of pre-packaged sandwiches shows that 99% were satisfactory when tested for the foodborne bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and coagulase positive staphylococci.

However, of concern was the fact that 29% of sandwiches tested were stored or displayed at temperatures higher than 5˚C.

The study found that four of the five sandwiches, which were classified as unsatisfactory or unacceptable/potentially hazardous, were stored above 8˚C, with one sandwich displayed unrefrigerated at 17.9˚C. For three of these sandwiches, there was at least one day remaining until the use-by date expired, which could have allowed even more bacteria to grow. While the incidence of Listeria monocytogenes infection is rare in Ireland, there is a high mortality rate (up to 40%) and only small numbers need to be consumed to cause serious infection.

Commenting on the findings of the study, Prof Alan Reilly, Chief Executive, FSAI said that the survey highlighted an unacceptable disregard for temperature control.

“Storing pre-packaged sandwiches at the incorrect temperature can lead to food poisoning. The onus is on retailers and caterers to ensure pre-packaged sandwiches are refrigerated at the recommended temperature of 5˚C or cooler. Hospitals and other establishments, which cater for vulnerable patients and the elderly, should be vigilant in monitoring temperature control and use-by dates. Equally important, manufacturers must ensure that accurate and realistic use-by dates are applied to the sandwiches they make.”

The study involved the HSE testing 948 pre-packaged sandwiches from retailers and caterers across the country.

It found that nearly all (99%) of these pre-packaged sandwiches were labelled correctly with a use-by date, as required by law. However, two food safety issues were noted – the use-by date had expired for a small proportion (1%) of sandwiches collected and the shelf-life given to some sandwiches may have been too long.