In recent weeks, more than 75 foods contaminated with Listeria have been recalled in Leclerc, Auchan, Carrefour, Monoprix, etc.
The same manufacturer can be at the origin of dozens of references sold under different brands. This explains why, since the beginning of April, the alerts have been coming one after the other, particularly on the official RappelConso website: more than 75 fresh products have been withdrawn from several French stores after the detection of Listeria monocytogenesbacteria responsible for listeriosis. These foods, ranging from mixed salads to snack preparations and cold meats, were sold in supermarkets such as Leclerc, Auchan, Carrefour or Monoprix, but also in networks such as Relay, Relais H (stations/airports) and Galeries Lafayette, often under different names.
At the origin of this wave: several sources of contamination, some of which linked to the same production site. In a recent case, the company Luna Food, which supplies many brands, had to withdraw en masse references distributed under different brands. This is what specialists call a “domino effect”: a single contaminated workshop can provide dozens of products, then distributed to numerous brands. When a problem is detected, all batches from this chain must be recalled, sometimes throughout the country. We remember the massive recall of contaminated cheeses (Camembert, Coulommiers, etc.) last August which caused fever and severe headaches in several people.
This operation is common in the food industry. The same manufacturer produces for several distributors, including private label brands. Result: localized contamination can quickly take on a national scale, with simultaneous withdrawals throughout the country.
The foods concerned have one thing in common: they are generally consumed without cooking. Cold meats, raw hams, prepared meals or salads are particularly exposed, because the bacteria is not eliminated before consumption. Several recent recalls have also concerned this type of product, particularly references that are widely consumed on a daily basis.
The bacteria in question, Listeria monocytogenesis responsible for listeriosis, a rare but potentially serious infection. Symptoms may appear up to several weeks after ingestion and often resemble flu-like illness (fever, headache, body aches). Those most at risk are pregnant women, the elderly and people who are immunocompromised. Another particularity: Listeria can develop even at low temperatures, including in the refrigerator, which favors its persistence in fresh products, even when respecting the cold chain.
Faced with these serial recalls, the authorities recommend checking the references of the products purchased, not consuming those concerned and returning them to the store. If you experience symptoms after ingesting a suspicious food, it is advisable to consult a doctor, mentioning this exposure.
