Co-operative recalls cream cartons after discovery of E.coli bacteria

PRODUCTION at a north Tipperary co-op has been suspended following the discovery of E.coli bacteria in cartons of cream.

Traces of the bacteria, discovered at the Arrabawn Co-op Creamery in Nenagh, were considered a serious food safety breach by the Department of Agriculture and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

The product was recalled from shop shelves last week after Department of Agriculture inspectors found levels of the bacteria in random samples taken from a tray of Nenagh Fresh Cream 225ml cartons.

Department of Agriculture scientists said it was unlikely the bacteria was E.coli 0157 - a potentially deadly strain which can be fatal.

However, the head of the department’s dairy science lab in Limerick, John O’Mahony, said the presence of E.coli in food had to be taken seriously.

“It’s very unusual, it can be a dangerous organism,” he said.

FSAI chief environmental health specialist, Jeff Moon, said any E.coli strain in a product was worrying.

“The bacteria is really not acceptable at all in processed products,” he said.

A spokesman for the Arrabawn Co-op Creamery said the co-op had acted immediately once the bacteria was discovered and all the cream had been safely recalled.

He said the problem had affected just “a small number of trays” and that distribution of the product was local.

“We want to assure ourselves that it won’t happen again. It’s never happened before in 100 years and we don’t want it ever to happen again,” the spokesman said.