More than 80 people across Britain have fallen ill in a salmonella outbreak linked to a dry-cured sausage sold exclusively in Tesco.
Health officials have traced the infections to a deli-style meat product that has now been urgently recalled amid fears it could cause fever, diarrhoea and severe stomach cramps.
French supplier Sacor has pulled its Bastides Saucisson Sec after salmonella bacteria were discovered in a batch of the product.
Food safety watchdogs have issued a stark ‘do not eat’ warning, urging shoppers to return the sausage to any Tesco store for a full refund.
The recall affects 200g packs with a best-before date of March 4, 2026.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the outbreak was first detected at the end of January after scientists spotted an increase in cases of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium using whole genome sequencing data.
By late February, 84 confirmed infections had been identified across the UK, with laboratory testing suggesting they were caused by the same strain, pointing to a common source.
The confirmed cases have specimen dates between January 7 and February 11.
Sacor is recalling Bastides Saucisson Sec because salmonella has been found in the product
Most of those infected, 69 people live in England, while 10 cases have been recorded in Wales and five in Scotland.
Within England, the South East recorded 23 cases and the East of England reported 16.
Patients range in age from two to 91, with a median age of 33.
Of those affected, 45 are male and 39 female.
Several people have been hospitalised and two patients developed bloodstream infections, though no deaths have been reported.
Investigators found an unusually high proportion of patients had eaten cured pork products in the week before falling ill.
Of those interviewed, 23 confirmed they had consumed cured pork.
Further analysis of epidemiological evidence and supermarket loyalty card data pointed to an imported ready-to-eat cured pork product sold at Tesco as the most likely source.
Tesco removed the product from sale while investigations were ongoing.
Testing carried out by the supplier later detected salmonella in one batch, triggering the recall on March 2.
Experts are now waiting for further genome sequencing results to confirm whether the bacteria found in the sausage matches the outbreak strain.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is continuing to investigate alongside international partners to determine the root cause of the contamination.
Symptoms of salmonella infection typically include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.
Health officials warn that some contaminated products may already have been eaten before the alert was issued.
Anyone experiencing symptoms is advised to stay away from work, school or nursery until they have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours to prevent spreading the infection.
In a recall notice, the FSA said: ‘If you have bought the above product, do not eat it. Instead, return it to your nearest Tesco store for a full refund.’
Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the UK. The bacteria live in the intestines of humans and animals and are typically spread through contaminated food or drink.
Foods most frequently linked to infections include raw poultry, eggs, unpasteurised dairy products and ready-to-eat salads.
The warning comes after UKHSA data released last year showed salmonella cases rose sharply during the first three months of 2025, compared with the previous two years.
While large supermarket outbreaks are relatively rare, they do occur.
In June 2022, hundreds of chicken products sold by major supermarkets including Tesco, Aldi and Sainsbury’s were recalled after salmonella contamination was detected.
And last year, more than 60 sandwiches, wraps and salads sold across 11 major UK retailers were hit with ‘do not eat’ warnings over fears they could contain STEC, another potentially dangerous bacteria.
Salmonella can survive on surfaces and multiply rapidly if food is stored incorrectly or handled without proper hygiene.
Although cooking can kill the bacteria, ready-to-eat chilled foods pose a particular risk because they are consumed without reheating.
Around 33 people die each year in the UK from foodborne salmonella infections, according to research published in BMJ Open Gastroenterology.
The FSA issues food recall notices when a product presents a potential risk to public health.
