HEALTH officials are investigating a fatal listeria outbreak linked to desserts dished out in NHS hospitals.
Three people have died and two people were hospitalised after eating puddings contaminated with the bacteria, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Food Standards Agency (FSA) said.
Health authorities are investigating five listeria cases linked to deserts in hospitals[/caption]
The health agencies are investigating a total of five cases of Listeria monocytogenes in NHS hospitals across the country, which were flagged between May and December 2024.
Two cases were spotted in hospitals in Yorkshire and Humber and one each in the North West, West Midlands and Wales.
Patients were aged between 68 and 89 and all had underlying health conditions for which they were hospitalised.
Three of them passed away, with Listeria monocytogenes being reported as the cause of death for one patient.
Officials suspect mousses and ice creams made by Cool Delight Desserts to be the source of the outbreak of the diarrhoea-causing bug.
All chilled desserts including ice cream, ice cream cream rolls, mousses and yoghurts supplied by the company to the NHS and care homes have now been recalled by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as a precaution.
