Multiple media sources have reported on an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) connected to chocolate desserts supplied to National Health Service (NHS) hospitals that has resulted in three deaths and two illnesses across the United Kingdom (UK), according to reports from UK health and food safety authorities. The contamination has been traced to mousses and ice creams manufactured by Cool Delight Desserts, prompting a widespread product recall. The incident mirrors a current Listeria outbreak in the United States connected to frozen nutritional shakes at long-term care homes that has so far resulted in 37 hospitalizations and 11 deaths.
The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) is recalling all chilled desserts supplied by the company to the NHS and care homes, including ice cream, ice cream rolls, mousses, and yogurts. Hospital staff have received alerts instructing them to check refrigerators to ensure all potentially contaminated products are removed from circulation.
The affected patients, all who became ill between May and December 2024, ranged in age from 68 to 89 years old. All five had underlying immunocompromising health conditions and were hospitalized at the time they contracted the infection. The geographic spread of cases highlights the national scope of the outbreak, with two patients from Yorkshire and the Humber, one from the North West, one from the West Midlands, and one from Wales.
According to the FSA, only one of the three fatalities had Listeria documented as the official cause of death. Health officials continue to investigate whether additional sources might be involved in the outbreak.
The contamination was discovered during routine testing at an NHS hospital in South West England last month. Laboratory analysis detected the Listeria bacterium in two different mousse varieties: chocolate and vanilla, and strawberry and vanilla. Although the levels of Listeria found were below the regulatory threshold of 100 colony-forming units per gram (CFU/g), the FSA noted that severely immunocompromised patients in healthcare settings face a significantly higher risk of developing severe symptoms from Listeria infection even at lower contamination levels.
Tina Potter, head of incidents at the FSA, told the Daily Mail that multiple agencies are collaborating to identify the cause of the outbreak. “The FSA, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), NHS, Department of Health and Social Care, and local authorities are working together to identify the cause of an outbreak of listeria linked to desserts served in NHS Trusts and other healthcare settings,” Potter stated. She added that potentially contaminated products were being removed from the supply chain as a precautionary measure, and that the source of contamination was under investigation.
Dr. Gauri Godbole, deputy director for gastrointestinal infections, food safety, and one health at UKHSA, said that while the investigation is ongoing, laboratory testing has identified a potential link to specific desserts served in some NHS facilities. “The cause of the outbreak isn’t confirmed yet,” Dr. Godbole noted. “However, our laboratory testing has identified a potential link to a particular type of dessert, which is not available from retailers but is served in some NHS Trusts.” The UKHSA has advised healthcare providers to stop serving these desserts while investigations continue.
Listeriosis, the infection caused by consuming food contaminated with Listeria, can present serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. While the bacterium may not alter the appearance or smell of contaminated food, it can cause severe and sometimes fatal infections. For most healthy individuals, listeria poisoning typically manifests with flu-like symptoms including high temperature, muscle aches, chills, nausea, and vomiting, with symptoms usually subsiding after several days.
However, the infection poses a significantly greater threat to elderly individuals, pregnant women, newborns, and people with compromised immune systems. In severe cases, listeriosis can progress to life-threatening complications such as meningitis and septicemia.
Listeria is ubiquitous in the environment and can be found in various food sources, soil, and animal droppings. It is most commonly associated with unpasteurized dairy products, soft cheeses, and ready-to-eat foods like pre-packaged sandwiches. The bacterium can survive and multiply at refrigeration temperatures, making proper food handling and storage practices particularly important in preventing contamination.
According to the most recent available data, England and Wales reported 177 cases of listeriosis in 2023, resulting in 32 deaths. Of these fatalities, 11 had listeriosis specifically recorded as a cause of death on the death certificate. That year, health authorities investigated seven distinct outbreaks, including a nationwide wave associated with smoked fish, semi-soft cheese, and beef products.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading Listeria lawyer said, “Hospitals and healthcare facilities must maintain a high degree of vigilance and strict adherence to food safety protocols, particularly for foods served to high-risk patients. Regular testing, strict temperature control, proper handling procedures, and careful supplier selection are all critical components of preventing Listeria outbreaks and reducing the opportunity for illness.”
