As a result of the recall in December, Pestell’s have stopped producing and selling ready-to-eat ham products. In October, routine testing by Pak ’n Save Blenheim found listeria in some packaged meat products, with the affected products being recalled.
Derek Flynn/Stuff
The first sign of the listeria contamination was found after routine testing at a Pak ‘n Save in Blenheim. It was identified after genome testing, that the listeria found as a result of the testing, had the same sequencing as the listeria found in Pestell’s products. New Zealand Food Safety food compliance services national manager Melinda Sando said after finding the contaminated products at the supermarket, investigators went to Pestell’s to take samples from their processing environments and their products.
The Ministry for Primary Industries is still investigating the source of listeria cases in the top of the South Island following the recent recalls of some ham products from Pestells on Wednesday and sliced meats from Pak ‘n Save Blenheim in November. It confirmed Nelson Marlborough Public Health Service received four notifications of cases of listeriosis in the past 12 months; with one last December and the others in August, September and November this year. Two historic cases, in 2016 and 2018, were also recorded.
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Pestells and Pak ‘n Save Blenheim have been directed by MPI to stop the sale of certain products to ensure there was no ongoing risk to customers.