SANDWICHES supplied to schools, businesses and hospitals across News Shopper's regions may have been contaminated with listeria.

The problem was identified by Ashford Council during routine sampling tests.

Food supplied to a range of premises in Kent, Sussex, Essex, Middlesex, Surrey and London could be affected, says the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

A full list of establishments published on the FSA's website shows many addresses across south-east London and north Kent have received sandwiches from Ashford-based Anchor Catering.

There have been no reported cases of illness caused by the sandwiches, says the Health Protection Agency.

The affected sandwiches have a use-by date of between February 21 to March 14.

Anchor Catering has voluntarily suspended production and informed its customers of the problem.

These include certain schools, businesses and hospitals across Gravesend, Dartford, Lewisham, Bromley, Abbey Wood, Hayes, Chislehurst and Beckenham.

Listeria does not pose a threat to most people but could be serious for vulnerable people, says Food Standards Agency chief scientist Dr Andrew Wadge.

Groups at risk include pregnant women, the elderly, young babies and people with weakened immune systems including those receiving chemotherapy or people with HIV.

Dr Wadge said: "Although the company took prompt action to notify customers and withdraw the product, large numbers of sandwiches may have been consumed before the problem was detected."

Symptoms of the listeria infection can take up to 90 days to appear.

The illness starts with a fever, a flu-like illness and diarrhoea.

It can usually be treated with antibiotics.

An investigation has been launched to identify the source of contamination.

A full list of the premises supplied with sandwiches from Anchor Catering is available at www.food.gov.uk.The company was not available for comment.

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