As 9 people die in listeriosis outbreak linked to frozen sweetcorn we reveal the hidden dangers in your freezer
NINE people across Europe have died from listeriosis after eating frozen sweetcorn, health experts have warned.
Not properly cooking the frozen veg is thought to be behind the outbreak, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said.
Dozens of Brits have fallen ill, while two have lost their lives, officials confirmed.
And supermarkets across the country, including Tesco, Lidl, Aldi and Iceland, are pulling bags of their own-brand frozen veg from the shelves for fear they could contain listeria.
Listeriosis is a rare infection caused by the bacteria called listeria. In most cases it causes a fever, aches and pains, vomiting and diarrhoea but in vulnerable people, such as the elderly, it can be fatal.
Dr Lisa Ackerley, aka the Hygiene Doctor, said the most important thing to stop the bacteria breeding in your freezer is to wrap food up in bags as tight as possible - to ensure all the air is squeezed out.
"Use freezer clips to keep contents in bags so they don’t spill," she told The Sun.
"Read the labels and don’t use anything that is not ready-to-eat unless you cook it thoroughly first.
"Consider using tinned sweet corn or other tinned vegetables if you will eat them cold - the canning process is very effective and you can always freeze it if you don’t want to eat all of it.
"But don’t leave any food in opened tins because of the risk of metal poisoning.
"You can always wash fresh fruit and veg thoroughly yourself - use lots of agitation to dislodge bacteria and then freeze it for smoothies - or use a produce wash.
"Check packets of frozen berries for suitability to eat without cooking because you may be surprised."
It's not just listeriosis you need to be worried about, Dr Lisa warned other nasty food poisoning bugs like E.coli and salmonella can also thrive on food if it is not stored and defrosted correctly.
Here's how to store food in your freezer...without the risk of picking up a nasty bug.
1. Vegetables
Frozen sweetcorn has been the source of the latest listeriosis outbreak in the UK, but other kinds of frozen vegetables can also pose a threat.
Always read the instructions on the bag, you may be surprised at how many products aren't ready-to-eat.
"Store in the freezer in the original bag using a clip to stop products escaping," Lisa said.
"If not labelled ready-to-eat, cook according to the instructions on the packet and aim for the final temperature of the dish to be 75C for 30 seconds.
"Wash hands after handling any product that is not ready-to-eat."
Never put frozen vegetables, like spinach, into a smoothie unless it says ready to eat on the packet.
2. Fruit
As with frozen vegetables, not all frozen fruit is ready-to-eat.
The safest way to eat frozen fruit is to wash it and freeze it yourself first.
"Be very careful to look at instructions on the pack," Lisa said.
"Don’t use frozen fruit in smoothies unless it says ready to eat on the packet.
"You can freeze your own fruit for smoothies - wash your hands first, wash the fruit and chop on a clean chopping board before putting it in freezer bags, extracting as much air as possible.
"Label them so you know what you have.
"These bags of fruit can be blended from frozen or be defrosted in the fridge in a bowl to use as a dessert."
3. Meat and fish
The storage rules for meat and fish in the freezer are the same as for storing it in the fridge - it needs to be wrapped tightly and kept on a separate shelf from other produce.
"If it is pre-frozen then keep wrapped up and secure," Lisa said.
"I keep meat, fish and poultry in a separate area of the freezer so no contamination from the packaging can get on to any ready-to-eat food.
FOODS MOST LIKELY TO CONTAIN LISTERIA
Listeriosis is usually caught from eating food containing listeria bacteria.
You can get it from lots of types of food, but it's mainly a problem with:
- unpasteurised milk
- dairy products made from unpasteurised milk
- soft cheeses, like camembert and brie
- chilled ready-to-eat foods, like prepacked sandwiches, pâté and deli meats
You can also catch listeriosis from:
- someone else who has it – for example, if you eat food they've handled when they haven't washed their hands
- close contact with farm animals
"When removing from the freezer always follow the instructions.
"Some things can be cooked from frozen, such as mince. Other meats, such as a whole turkey, need to be thoroughly defrosted in the fridge in a deep container to catch drip.
"Any defrosting should always be in the fridge so bacteria in the areas that have defrosted first do not grow.
"Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat or poultry or it’s packaging."
4. Bread
Storing bread in the freezer is a great way to stop it from going off quickly - and you can take out a slice at a time as you need it, or the whole loaf.
But the same rules apply - wrap it tightly to avoid bacteria contamination and freezer burn.
WHAT IS LISTERIOSIS? Health experts warn about dangers of eating frozen vegetables after nearly a dozen cases of people in the UK falling ill and two dying
Listeriosis is a rare infection caused by bacteria called listeria.
It usually goes away on its own, but can cause serious problems if you're pregnant or have a weak immune system.
Symptoms:
In most people it only causes mild symptoms for a few days, including:
- a high temperature of 38C or above
- aches and pains
- chills
- feeling sick or vomiting
- diarrhoea
But in vulnerable people, including the elderly, those with existing conditions like diabetes and pregnant women, listeriosis can cause serious problems.
People with vulnerable immune systems are more at risk of the bug attacking their immune system.
They may become seriously ill for longer than a few days and in the worst case scenario the bug may result in death.
"Wrap well and keep away from meat and poultry," Lisa said.
"Take out one slice at a time for toast and toast it, it saves waste.
"If you want the whole loaf take it out and defrost at room temperature as bread goes stale in the fridge.
"If you are making sandwiches you can make them with frozen bread slices and they will defrost slowly and keep fresh in a lunch box, but use an ice pack as well to keep the filling safe if it is likely to support bacteria growth - like cooked meat, eggs, soft cheese, fish and salads.
"Jam, Marmite and peanut butter are fine."
MORE ON FOOD SAFETY
5. Dairy products
Most pre-frozen dairy products are designed to be eaten frozen, but some milks and yoghurts can be bought frozen to be eaten defrosted.
Plus, you may want to freeze fresh bought milk or other products to stop it going off too soon.
"Keep it away from raw meat and poultry and wrap tightly," Lisa said.
"Follow instructions for defrosting and use, but generally you will need to defrost in the fridge."
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