Customers have been told not to eat a popular houmous product after fears it could contain E.coli bacteria.
Sainsbury’s issued an urgent recall on the popular chickpea product as a precaution.
The supermarket recalled JS Classic Houmous and JS Lemon & Coriander Houmous after fears it could contain E.coli.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: ‘Sainsbury’s has taken the precautionary step of recalling JS Classic Houmous and JS Lemon & Coriander Houmous because these products may contain Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC).’
What products are affected?
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The 315g Classic Houmous tub is included in the recall with use-by date of September 13.
The 200g Lemon & Coriander Houmous, with use by date of September 14, 2025 is also affected.
The FSA said in a warning: ‘The products listed above might be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Symptoms caused by this organism include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea, and haemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal.’
Sainsbury’s said in a statement: ‘Customers are advised not to consume these products and instead return it to their local Sainsbury’s store for a full refund.
‘We would like to apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.’
Customers can contact the Sainsbury’s careline on 0800 028 8303 or visit Sainsburys.co.uk/help if they have any questions.
What is E.coli?
E.coli is a bacteria which lives in the bowel of most people.
It doesn’t cause issues in the gut as long as it stays there, but it can lead to an infection if it gets into new areas like wounds, scratches or urinary catheter sites, the NHS says.
Anyone can pick up an E.coli infection, but it can be particularly dangerous for older people and those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes.
It can be caught by:
- eating contaminated food, such as raw leafy vegetables or undercooked meat – always wash all vegetables, including salad leaves, that will be eaten raw, unless they have been pre-prepared and are labelled ‘ready to eat’ (washing may reduce the risk of infection, but will not eliminate any risk of infection completely)
- touching infected animals or accidentally coming into contact with their faeces
- contact with people who have the illness, particularly if you do not wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet or before handling food
- drinking water from inadequately treated water supplies
- swimming or playing in contaminated water, such as ponds or streams
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