Traces of Escherichia Coli allegedly found in some batches of meat for sale at the supermarket chain Metro Cash&Carry. The line has already started the withdrawal of these products from its stores, posting an alert on its website.
All consumers who have purchased meat belonging to those lots must in fact return it to the nearest point of sale and not consume it. We see what are these lots and what they are health risks.
Meat contaminated with Escherichia Coli
If you consult the website of the Ministry of Health to the section on food withdrawals we are disconcerted: the number of lots withdrawn since August 18 is well over ten.
The last to be added are two batches of meat picked up from the supermarket Metro who raised the alarm with a note on their website.
Incidents therefore increase in which foods contain harmful substances beyond the limits or foods contaminated with pathogenic bacteria as in the case of meat infected with Escherichia Coli. In fact, on European advice, the Ministry is increasing controls on food sold in Italian supermarkets.
Contaminated meat: which lots are withdrawn
There are two products withdrawn from the market and they are two cuts of veal, a red meat that is often cooked “rare” allowing Escherichia Coli to infect the consumer.
Most likely, the meat was not carefully cleaned during processing and caused tissue contamination, constituting a danger to the diner’s health.
Specifically, the withdrawn products are shown in the table.
| TYPE OF MEAT | BRAND NAME | LOTTO | IDENTIFICATION MARK | DEALER | MANUFACTURER NAME | EXPIRATION DATE | WEIGHT |
| EU SV MC calf priest hat | METRO CHEF | 10010115. | BE2EG/1 | Metro Cash&Carry SpA | vanlomme | 23-08-2021 | 0,9-1,5 kg |
| Veal underside EU SV MC | METRO CHEF | 10010115 | BE2EG/1 | Metro Cash&Carry SpA | vanlomme | 23-08-2021 | 2,8KG |
The reason for the recall is therefore given by the microbiological risk that the infected meat constitutes. In fact, Escherichia Coli produces highly toxic Shiga-toxins.
Meat infected with Escherichia Coli: consumer rights
As reported by Giovanni D’Agata, president of the “Rights Desk”, Consumers must pay close attention to the meat purchased in the outlets of Metro supermarkets.
We invite consumers who have purchased these products not to consume them and to return them to the point of sale for reimbursement, valid even without presentation of the receipt.
Consumers will then be able to return the meat and they will have the right to be reimbursed for the batches of meat purchased which at the moment constitute a biological risk for those who consume the product.
The gravity of the situation, D’Agata stressed, should not be underestimated because the presence of this toxin can be harmful to health. It goes without saying, therefore, that this product should not be consumed “for no reason if already purchased, but returned“. The refund will be in money or through the replacement of the product with another, a choice that is up to the consumer.
Meat infected with Escherichia Coli: health risks
L’Escherichia Coli it is a bacterium present in the human and animal intestine, being an integral part of normal intestinal flora of living beings. Although therefore most of the strains of Escherichia are harmless, there are nevertheless dangerous and harmful to health that can cause even serious disorders.
Escherichia Coli infection can come from more than just the uncooked meat but from fruit and vegetables, often eaten raw and from unpasteurized milk.
The infection can be very dangerous for fragile categories such as children and the elderly who can develop a form of kidney failure dangerous call hemolytic uremic syndrome.
The main symptoms of the infection are:
- abdominal cramps;
- nausea and vomit;
- bloody diarrhea;
Anyone who has therefore consumed undercooked meat from this batch and exhibits these symptoms should contact their doctor.