Tesco has issued an urgent recall of a popular ready-to-eat meat product after safety concerns over possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, prompting a clear “do not eat” warning to customers across the UK.
The affected product is The Curing Barn British Bresaola (60g), sold in Tesco stores for around £4.50. The recall specifically applies to packs with the use-by date of 10 June 2026 and batch codes WLRC, J1Z2, 0WD0 and J85J. Shoppers have been advised to return the product to the store for a full refund, even without a receipt.
The alert was issued after the presence of Listeria monocytogenes — a bacteria that can cause the illness listeriosis — was identified. While infections are rare, they can be serious and, in some cases, life-threatening, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Health risks and symptoms
Listeriosis often presents with flu-like symptoms, including high temperature, muscle aches, chills, nausea and diarrhoea. However, in more severe cases, it can lead to complications such as meningitis. Health authorities warn that pregnant women, people over 65, newborn babies and those with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk.
The concern is heightened because bresaola is a cured, air-dried beef product typically eaten without further cooking, meaning any contamination is not eliminated before consumption. That makes strict safety controls during production and packaging essential.
The UK’s Food Standards Agency said customers should not consume the product under any circumstances. “If you have bought the above product, do not eat it. Instead, return it to where you bought it from for a full refund,” the agency advised.
Wider context and rising recalls
The recall comes just days after another warning involving contaminated sandwich meat sold at Tesco, Asda and Morrisons, also linked to listeria concerns. That product — turkey breast pastrami — carried use-by dates up to 9 April 2026 and separate batch codes, highlighting a pattern of recent alerts involving ready-to-eat meat products.
Such incidents are drawing increased attention to food safety in chilled and convenience categories, where products are consumed without reheating. Even isolated contamination cases can quickly trigger nationwide recalls due to the potential severity of the health risks.
For consumers, the latest warning reinforces the importance of checking product labels, batch codes and use-by dates — especially for ready-to-eat foods. For retailers and suppliers, it underlines the growing scrutiny on food safety standards as recall notices become more visible and more frequent in public view.
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