WHSmith is urgently recalling vegan sandwiches, just days after 60 other food products were pulled from supermarket shelves amid rising fears of E.coli contamination

A third sandwich maker has pulled one of its products from shelves over concerns it could be contaminated with E. coli.

Today the ‘do not eat’ warning was issued on a wrap made by the vegan company THIS! only sold in WHSmith.

There are fears that the ‘This Isn’t Chicken and Bacon wrap’ may contain feces contaminated with lettuce leaves linked to an ongoing E. coli outbreak.

It comes just days after manufacturers Greencore Group and Samworth Brothers Manton Wood recalled more than 60 of their own sandwiches, wraps and salads sold in 10 major UK supermarkets.

E. coli usually causes fever, nausea and diarrhea. Symptoms usually resolve naturally within a few days, but vulnerable groups, including children, may be more seriously affected and food poisoning can be fatal.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said THIS! wrap was ‘recalled as a precaution’.

The warning affects date codes on products through June 18.

Point of sale notices, explaining to customers why the product is being recalled, will also be displayed in all stores selling the product, the FSA said.

It added: ‘If you have purchased any of the above products, do not eat it.

“Instead, return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.”

It is now known that more than 200 Britons have been affected in recent weeks by Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC), a rare variant of the diarrhoea-causing insect.

At least 67 people have been hospitalized.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said today that a total of 211 cases were recorded between May 25 and June 11.

Of these, 147 were in England, 27 in Wales and 35 in Scotland.

Only two cases have been recorded in Northern Ireland, although officials say this person is likely to have contracted the bug in England.

Victims include children as young as two years old, although the majority are young adults.

The UKHSA has said it expects the number of people falling ill to rise further as it conducts more research using genome sequencing to identify which E. coli cases are linked.

Darren Whitby, Head of Incidents at the FSA said: ‘Sandwich manufacturers are taking a precautionary step to recall a range of sandwiches, wraps, subs and rolls in response to findings from investigations by the FSA, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and UKHSA which are working to determine the cause. of an ongoing outbreak caused by STEC.

‘This is a complex investigation and we have worked quickly with the relevant companies and local authorities involved to narrow down the wide range of foods consumed to a small number of lettuce leaf products used in sandwiches, wraps, subs and rolls. .

‘After a thorough analysis of the food chain, these products are being recalled as a precaution.’

‘Infections caused by STEC bacteria can cause severe bloody diarrhea and in some cases more serious complications.

‘We therefore advise consumers who have these products at home not to eat them.

‘The FSA is here to ensure food is safe.

“If there are products on the market that are not, we will not hesitate to take action to remove them.”

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, also said: ‘Food safety is the top priority for our members and those who sell or prepare food are well informed about food safety measures.’

He added: ‘The affected retailers are taking swift action to withdraw these products from sale and are working closely with the FSA to take any further action necessary to minimize the risk to their customers.’

STEC is considered extremely contagious; only a few bacteria need to be ingested for someone to become ill.

Symptoms of infection include vomiting, fever, stomach cramps and diarrhea, which can last up to two weeks.

But in up to 15 percent of cases, the bug can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure.

Children under the age of five are at greatest risk for HUS.

A small proportion of adults may develop a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

However, it can also affect other vulnerable groups, including the elderly and immunocompromised.

STEC is mainly spread by eating contaminated food, such as raw vegetables that have not been properly washed or stored, or through undercooked meat.

It can also be spread by touching infected animals or their feces, either directly or through contaminated water.

People can also pass the bug through direct content, such as caring for a sick child and then touching their face and mouth without properly washing their hands.