Waitrose has initiated a recall of its Essential range pitted black olives over concerns of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause the serious infection listeriosis.
Food safety officials confirmed the presence of the bacteria in the product. Listeriosis can lead to severe health complications, including sepsis and meningitis, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly, pregnant women, newborns, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Symptoms often mimic the flu, with high temperature, muscle aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but can escalate to life-threatening conditions.
The recall specifically affects 120g packs of Waitrose Essential Pitted Black Olives with use-by dates of September 13, September 18, and September 27, 2026. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a notice advising customers not to consume the affected olives.
Customers who have purchased the product are advised to return it to their local Waitrose & Partners branch for a full refund. The supermarket has apologized for the inconvenience and is displaying point-of-sale notices in stores to inform customers. For further assistance, customers can contact Waitrose Customer Care.
This action follows a similar recall by Sainsbury's earlier this week, which also pulled its Inspired to Cook Pitted Black Olives from shelves due to fears of contamination with the same bacteria. The FSA clarifies that recalls are issued when a product poses a risk to consumers.
Listeria bacteria are typically killed during pasteurization but can be present in various ready-to-eat foods. The UK Health Security Agency reported 179 cases of listeriosis in England and Wales in 2024, resulting in 28 deaths among non-pregnancy-related cases. Contaminated produce may not show visible signs of spoilage.