Unnamed UK supermarket at centre of Hepatitis E infection claims
Researchers at Public Health England (PHE) have revealed that pork products, including sausages and ham, sold by an unnamed leading British supermarket may have infected ‘thousands of people’ with Hepatitis E, according to the national press.
PHE research, conducted between 2014 and 2016, attempting to trace the shopping habits of 60 Hep E-infected people is said to have found that a common factor was consumption of own-brand sausages from ‘Supermarket X’.
According to the Sunday Times, the research estimated that imported pork infects 150,000 – 200,000 Britons a year with the virus and added: “The implicated products are pork sausages, which require cooking prior to consumption, and ready-to-eat pre-packed sliced ham.”
The Sunday Times added that “after looking at different brands of sausage”, the paper concluded: “Only Supermarket X, especially own brand, was significantly associated with HEV G3-2.”
The same publication has cited unidentified sources, who claim that the supermarket in question was Tesco.
A Tesco spokesman told Meat Management: “We work very closely with the FSA and PHE to make sure customers can be confident in the safety and quality of the food they buy. This particular research was carried out six years ago on a small number of people, and although it provided no direct link between specific products and Hepatitis E we always take care to review research findings such as this.
“Food quality is really important to us and we have in place an expert team to ensure the highest possible standards at every stage of our supply chain, as well as providing clear information to customers on how to handle and cook pork in the home to minimise the risk of Hepatitis E.”
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