On 22 May 2024, routine surveillance by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) picked up a significant increase in faecal samples from patients testing positive for e-coli STEC genes. By 25 June, there were 275 recorded cases of infected people with one known death. The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) investigation found a link to a specific type of lettuce used in sandwiches, where a pathogen is attacking the gut’s lining. Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting.
E-coli grows in the guts of warm-blooded animals, and is present in 10-15% of dairy herds. As such, manure is sometimes contaminated with e-coli. When manure directly or indirectly (through soil or water) makes contact with crops like lettuce, it can cause illness for people that consume it. Leafy greens are a particular threat because they do not have a kill-step due to lack of cooking by either processor or end consumer.
This represented a significant outbreak, impacting sandwich and wrap products across three manufacturers, with products sold in Aldi, Amazon Fresh, Asda, Boots, Co-op, Morrisons, One Stop, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. The short shelf-life of this product and others similar makes it difficult to carry out testing and therefore protect consumers, and so the FSA continues to work with local authorities, growers, suppliers and manufacturers to identify the root cause of the outbreak and recommend remedial actions.
During its investigations, the FSA found robust HACCP plans were in place, including product testing and biosecurity. So even with strong food safety measures, all parts of the supply chain are still susceptible to contaminated product recall risk. This shows the need for businesses to protect themselves with a risk transfer mechanism has never been greater, to complement testing and environmental monitoring. This way, they gain peace of mind that if measures do fail, they have the financial and reputational protection to come out the other side.
That’s why CFC combines first and third-party protection with excellent crisis consultancy, through partners Response24. Our product recall policy is designed to offer 24/7 crisis response, to guide businesses through the stressful and vital period immediately after suspecting a contamination event may have occurred. Together with Response24, we’re able to help businesses to manage the situation, working openly and honestly with the public and the regulators, before indemnifying them for the losses incurred.
The CFC contaminated product recall policy protects manufacturers in the event of a pathogen contamination of their product by covering:
- First and third-party costs to investigate and recall the product
- The cost of cleaning down the facility, paying staff and contractors, and rectifying the issue
- Costs related to destroying the old product and replacing it with new product
- Compensation to retailers for their financial damage
- The insured’s own loss of sales as a direct result of the event
- Costs for repairing their reputation back to the point it was prior to the loss
All businesses who grow, supply, manufacture, process, pack or distribute a food or beverage product carry an exposure to a product recall event.
Find out how to get started with product recall insurance by reaching out to our team.
