Hospital sandwich death toll rises to five as two more fatal cases of listeria poisoning confirmed

Two more NHS hospital patients have died as a result of eating sandwiches contaminated with listeria, health officials have confirmed.

It takes the death toll to five, Public Health England (PHE) has said – after linking a further three cases to the latest food poisoning outbreak.

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, has ordered a review into hospital food.

The watchdog announced in June that three patients had died from listeria and six were seriously ill after eating products supplied to NHS hospitals by The Good Food Chain

In an update, PHE confirmed that one of the six seriously ill patients has died. While one of the patients not initially linked to hospital outbreak had died before it was discovered.

Sandwiches and salads have been withdrawn from hospital stores and NHS organisations have been advised not to feed vulnerable patients with food produced by the food company.

The investigations into the outbreak are ongoing, PHE said, and are being conducted in partnership with the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The first three victims who died were at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool.

There have been no new cases confirmed since hospitals were informed on 25 May.

“To date, there have been no patients linked to this incident outside healthcare organisations, but we continue to investigate," said Dr Nick Phin, of Public Health England.

"Swift action was taken to protect patients and any risk to the public is low."

Listeria can be found in unpasteurised milk and other dairy products. It can also be found in cooked sliced meats, pate and smoked salmon.

It may lead to listeriosis, which is usually mild form of food poisoning but can turn severe if it spreads to the blood stream or brain.

Elderly people and young children are most at risk to severe infection, though mild cases in pregnant women have caused miscarriages or lead to birth complications.

The Good Food Chain was supplied with meat produced by North Country Cooked Meats, which subsequently produced a positive test result for the outbreak strain of listeria.

Both companies, as well as distributor North Country Quality Foods, have voluntarily ceased production while an investigation continues.

Dr Colin Sullivan, chief operating officer at the FSA said: “Our sympathies remain with the families of the patients who have tragically passed away. We have taken action along with local authorities to minimise the risk based on the evidence so far. The FSA will continue to investigate the cause of the outbreak to prevent a reoccurrence.”

The Good Food Chain said in a statement: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families of those who have died and anyone else who has been affected by this outbreak.

“The underlying cause of it remains unclear.

“We understand that the investigations being carried out are complicated and will involve a number of stakeholders, but we hope the authorities will pursue their inquiries with all urgency so the wider industry can learn any lessons as soon as possible, and so those affected do not have to wait too long for answers.

“For our part, we are co-operating fully and transparently with the FSA and other authorities, and will continue to do so.”

North Country Cooked Meats said previously: “At this stage the company is currently co-operating fully with the environmental health and the FSA in their investigations, and a further statement will be issued in due course.”

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said: “All our thoughts must be with the families who have lost a loved one.

“These sandwiches were distributed across a number of trusts which is why last week I called on ministers to update MPs urgently on action taken to date. Patients and NHS staff will expect reassurance and ministers must outline what checking procedures on batches are in place now and for the future.

“Given this latest tragic news it is vital the health secretary provides a full oral statement to MPs in the Commons on Monday. High quality nutritious food is integral to care. It's time for a review of hospital food and the adoption of minimum standards.”

Additional reporting from agencies