Sainsbury’s has issued a recall for two varieties of its own-brand hummus due to concerns that they may contain a harmful strain of E. coli. Customers who have purchased these products have been advised not to consume them.
The specific items involved in the recall are 315g containers of JS Classic Houmous, with a use-by date of September 13, and 200g tubs of JS Lemon & Coriander Houmous, with a use-by date of September 14. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) indicated that the affected batches could harbor shiga toxin-producing E. coli (Stec) and the recall has been conducted as a precautionary measure.
Point of sale notices will be displayed in all stores selling these products until October 3, informing customers about the recall and providing instructions for those who have purchased them. Sainsbury’s has apologized for any inconvenience caused and announced that customers can return the affected products to any Sainsbury’s branch for a full refund.
Symptoms associated with an E. coli (Stec) infection may include diarrhea, often with bleeding, fever, and abdominal pain, typically lasting up to two weeks. In some cases, particularly among children, severe complications like hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure, may develop.
Stec bacteria are predominantly found in cattle within the UK, but have also been identified in the feces of various animals, including deer and pigs. The government notes that this strain is very infectious, as only a small number of bacteria are required to cause illness, which raises the risk of transmission in family and communal settings.
In 2024, the UK Health Security Agency reported 2,544 cases of Stec infection in England, marking a 26% increase from the previous year. Previously, several supermarkets had to recall products last year linked to another E. coli outbreak.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/sep/13/sainsburys-recalls-two-own-brand-hummus-varieties-over-e-coli-fears