Pembrokeshire County Council’s Public Protection department would like to make local food businesses and consumers aware of advice issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Food Standards Scotland (FSS), Public Health England (PHE) and Health Protection Scotland (HPS).

The message reminds people that most frozen vegetables - including sweetcorn - need to be cooked before eating. This includes vegetables that are to be used in salads, smoothies or dips.

The advice comes following information that frozen sweetcorn is the likely source of an ongoing outbreak of listeriosis affecting five European countries, including the United Kingdom.

Listeriosis is a rare, but serious food-borne illness caused by the bacterium Listeria Monocytogenes that can be more serious for those individuals who have weakened immune systems and also the elderly, pregnant women and infants.

Persons who may be at greater risk of listeriosis - and businesses who serve these groups- are therefore asked to pay particular attention to the manufacturers’ instructions on frozen vegetables.

In addition, certain frozen vegetable products have been the subject of a voluntary product recall. Details of the products affected by this recall are available at the following link: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-35-2018