The Irish Farmers Journal understands that Ballymaguire Foods is working with the relevant health authorities for a staged reopening of its currently suspended facility in the near future.

This comes after the food manufacturer announced that it had suspended all production at one of its facilities on Wednesday 23 July after over 140 ready-to-eat meals and side dish products were recalled due to a link with a listeriosis outbreak.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed that one adult had died and nine other people have been confirmed to have contracted the disease. This is currently under investigation.

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In the wake of the major product recall, Ballymaguire Foods, a sister company to Country Crest, implemented a full pharmaceutical-grade clean-down of the site. It has appointed Dr Patrick Wall to lead a dedicated response team. Dr Wall is the former FSAI chief executive, former European Food Safety Authority chairperson and former professor of public health at University College Dublin (UCD).

Listeriosis

Ballymaguire Foods has said that it is working in close collaboration with the FSAI, officers at the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Agriculture, and that production at the affected facility will only recommence once the relevant authorities are satisfied.

Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes and it is usually acquired by eating contaminated food.

On average each year, there are between 14 and 22 cases of listeriosis reported in Ireland.

The FSAI issued this advice to consumers: “Listeria poses a particular risk to elderly people, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women. These individuals in particular, should avoid higher risk foods and ensure that they cook food thoroughly until piping hot and in line with manufacturer’s instructions.”