Authorities have issued a recall of frozen vegetables due to listeria fears.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has warned people to check their freezers for the recalled frozen vegetable products that could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Acting FSANZ CEO Peter May said pregnant women, people whose immune systems are compromised and elderly people, are at a much greater risk from Listeria infection.

“The products affected contain a particularly dangerous strain of Listeria and are being recalled as a precautionary measure to ensure consumers are protected, but particularly vulnerable populations,” Mr May said.

“While many people will follow cooking instructions properly (which should kill Listeria bacteria) we are aware that some people eat frozen vegetables straight from the freezer and there is a risk of some people not cooking produce properly.

The recall covers the following products;

  • Woolworths - Essentials snap frozen mixed veg 1kg: Carrots, peas, corn, green beans & potatoes – National distribution Best Before 19 MAR 2020 through to 24 APR 2020
  • Woolworths - Bell Farms Steam Veggie Carrot Corn and Broccoli 3pk 450g – National distribution, all stock
  • IGA - Black & Gold Corn Kernels 500g – National distribution Best Before all dates
  • IGA - Black & Gold Mixed Vegetables 1kg: Carrots, peas, beans & corn – National distribution Best Before all dates
  • ALDI - Market Fare Peas, Carrots and Super Sweet Corn 1kg – National distribution
  • ALDI - Market Fare Corn Kernels 1kg QLD, VIC, WA and select NSW stores Product of Hungary (only)
  • ALDI - Market Fare Mixed Vegetables 1kg QLD, NSW, ACT, WA Packed in Belgium from Imported and Belgian Ingredients (only)
  • ALDI - Market Fare Quick Steam Carrot Broccoli and Cauliflower 450g – National distribution
  • ALDI - Market Fare Quick Steam Carrot Corn and Broccoli 450g – National distribution
  • ALDI: Only products with country of origin of Belgium, United Kingdom or Hungary, all other countries not affected

Consumers who have the product in their freezer should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of it. Consumers who have eaten the product and feel unwell should see a health professional.

Vegetable growers lobby AUSVEG says the national recall involves imported products only.

FSANZ says there is no evidence of infections in Australia, but the contamination has caused a number of deaths in the UK.

The European Food Safety Authority has recorded 47 cases including nine deaths since an outbreak in Europe in 2015 linked to the affected vegetables.

The same strains of the bacteria in frozen vegetables were found to have come from the same Hungarian company in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

The strains appear to have persisted despite cleaning and disinfection procedures at the Hungarian plant.