Australasia-New Zealand-TVNZ-Beef pulled amid listeria scare

Beef contaminated with listeria has been served in the past two weeks in at least three hospitals and more than 30 cafes in the North Island.

A routine test at Waikato Hospital two weeks ago found listeria in the beef served in sandwiches and salads.

For five days the contaminated food was sold at the hospital’s cafes and also served to patients for three days.

“The food in question was stopped circulating and further testing was carried out not only on that but other batches as well,” says Dr Anita Bell of Waikato Hospital.

The beef came from Leonard’s, a meat manufacturer who have been in business 20 years. Owner Doug Leonard says it’s the first time it has happened and it came from a staff mistake.

“I know it’s an easy throwaway to blame people but we do in this case, we do in this case think it’s just a case of someone not completely following the guidelines in entering the factory and handing the product,” says Leonard.

The Leonard’s you find in the supermarket is safe to buy and eat. The infected batch went to Waikato and North Shore and Waitakere hospitals and also to 31 private cafes in the North Island which put the contaminated meat in their sandwiches…more..