An urgent fruit pack recall in UK supermarkets has been launched following a major food safety alert. Several pre-packaged fruit pots and snack packs sold by major UK supermarkets, such as Tesco, M&S, Asda, and Sainsbury’s, have been pulled from store shelves immediately.
Routine testing recently identified Salmonella contamination in apples and kiwi fruit batches used to manufacture these products. After these findings, the prominent supplier PrepWorld issued an immediate product withdrawal.
Salmonella is a group of bacteria that stands as one of the leading causes of foodborne illness (food poisoning) globally. Fresh products like apples and kiwis are distributed in ready-to-eat formats and can easily become contaminated. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has stepped in alongside retailers to manage the risk and inform the public about the active FSA food recall.
How Was Salmonella Contamination Found In The Fruit Packs?
A strict Salmonella alert for fruit packs in UK was triggered when laboratory testing detected the bacteria within the raw kiwi and apple components. The prominent fruit supplier PrepWorld immediately issued a product withdrawal, leading to the nationwide fruit pack recall in UK supermarkets.
As these specific recalled fruit packs are marketed as ready-to-eat convenience items, they pose an immediate health risk. Unlike raw meats, snack pots are consumed directly without cooking, meaning any active bacteria are ingested straight into the digestive system.
The PrepWorld fruit product recall was swiftly implemented to prioritize consumer safety and isolate the contaminated stock before wider consumption could occur.
Which Supermarkets Are Affected In UK Fruit Recalls?
The apple and kiwi fruit recall in UK impacts six of the nation’s largest grocery chains. Before consuming any pre-packed fruit snacks purchased recently, shoppers are urged to review the specific product names and use-by dates across the affected retailers listed below.
Tesco Fruit Recall
Tesco has withdrawn the largest volume of products in connection with this alert. The Tesco fruit recall encompasses the following items:
- Tesco Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry Pot (250g): Use-by date of 24 June 2026.
- Tesco Kiwi Fruit Pot (100g): Use-by date of 23 June 2026.
- Tesco Fruit Kebabs (290g): Use-by date of 23 June 2026.
- Tesco Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry Pack (125g): Use-by dates of 23 and 24 June 2026.
Before this, Tesco had issued a recall earlier for their Fruit Medley packs, due to the same Salmonella contamination.
Sainsbury’s Fruit Products Recalled
Sainsbury’s has removed three individual fruit lines from its inventory, all carrying a use-by date of 23 June 2026:
- Melon, Kiwi & Strawberry Pot (220g)
- Orange & Kiwi Pack (240g)
- Pink Lady Apple & Grape Pack (240g)
Marks & Spencer Fruit Pack Recall
The Marks & Spencer recall targets three convenience apple items distributed to its stores. All affected M&S lines carry a use-by date of 24 June 2026:
- Café Pink Lady Apple (90g)
- FTG (Food To Go) Pink Lady Apple (90g)
- Pink Lady Apple Slices (225g)
Fruit Products Recalled at ASDA, Morrisons and Waitrose
The remaining national supermarkets are dealing with individual product lines tied to the Salmonella contamination in fruit packs:
- Asda Fruit Recall: Pink Lady Apple, Mango, Strawberry & Blueberry Fruit Pot (220g) with use-by dates of 23 and 24 June 2026.
- Morrisons Fruit Recall: Kiwi, Melon & Strawberries Pack (220g) with a use-by date of 24 June 2026.
- Waitrose Recall: Pink Lady Apple and Grapes Pack (115g) with a use-by date of 23 June 2026.
Symptoms of Salmonella Consumers Should Watch For
An infection caused by Salmonella primarily targets the intestinal tract. Consumers who have eaten any of the recalled fruit pots should monitor themselves for the following hallmark symptoms:
- High fever
- Severe or watery diarrhoea
- Painful stomach cramps and abdominal tenderness
- Nausea and dehydration
According to NHS clinical guidelines, Salmonella symptoms usually manifest within a few hours to a couple of days following consumption, though rare instances can see a delay of several weeks.
Health officials advise infected individuals to prioritize rest and hydration.
To minimize public transmission, anyone exhibiting symptoms must stay home from work, school, or nursery for at least 48 hours after their symptoms completely clear.
What Should Customers Do?
The recent fruit pack recall in UK supermarkets underscores the continuous need for rigorous food safety checks.
According to the FSA Urgent Consumer Guidance, if anyone has bought any of the affected pre-packed fruit items listed above, do not consume them.
Instead, return the recalled fruit packages to the nearest local branch of the respective supermarket. Retailers have confirmed that a full refund will be provided to all customers.
To make the process smoother, major chains like Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and M&S are offering these refunds without requiring a receipt. Official point-of-sale notices are currently displayed at store entrances and customer service desks detailing these steps.
