Beware: this hummus contains dangerous listeria bacteria
Listeria has been found in a hummus and spinach dip from Maza. Listeria is a bacterium that can cause food poisoning and is particularly dangerous for pregnant women. The products concerned are Maza’s ‘hoemoes less salt’ and esfenaj, a spinach dip.
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority warned against the hummus after listeria bacteria were found in a tub. Listeria infection is uncommon, and if you are healthy, you usually will not notice much: you may feel a little flu-like at most. But for pregnant women, a listeria infection can have serious consequences, including miscarriage. Newborn babies, older people and people with a weakened immune system can also become seriously ill from a listeria infection. Every reason not to eat the hummus.
Check that barcode
Maza is removing the spinach dip and low-salt hummus from stores immediately. Do you have tubs in your fridge? Check whether they are safe to eat or whether it is better to throw them away. The warning applies to 200-gram tubs of esfenaj, with a best-before date of 19 March 2022 and barcode 8714779003897, and 200-gram tubs of ‘hoemoes less salt’, with a best-before date of 28 March 2022 and barcode 8714779004498. You can safely eat Maza’s other dips and spreads; there is nothing wrong with them.
4 per million
Is that hummus in your fridge by any chance? Do not eat it, and check Maza’s website to find out how to get your money back. No need to panic: listeria infection is uncommon in the Netherlands. The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reports 4 cases per million Dutch people each year, mostly among people over 65.
Image: Maza/Facebook
