Listeria poisoning from pre-packaged sandwich?

[Janie76]

Slightly panicking as am 25wks pregnant and I just bought a supermarket pre packaged cheddar cheese triple sandwich for lunch. I was eating it on the move and didn't notice anything apart from staleness and just about to eat the 3rd one (yes greedy) when I noticed black furry mould growing out of the cheese, tomato and bread. Decided to google- bad idea because up popped listeria and pre packaged sandwiches. I eat these sandwiches all the time and I wouldn't worry if I wasn't pregnant but now I realise the whole thing was mouldy I'm pretty concerned. First baby and taken many many years to get here so Probably am slightly more anxious than most.
Am I right to be concerned or are the risks really low??

EEEEWWWWWWWWWW I hope you took it back!? and kicked up a massive fuss!

I think chances of listeria are really low, keep an eye on yourself and if you start to feel sick/feverish or like you have food poisoning then head to the doctor straight away....

Listeria is very, very rare and it's a bacteria, not fungus (mould) - so just because the sandwich was mouldy, does not mean there's listeria present.

I'd just keep an eye on any food poisoning symptoms and call the midwives or gp at the first sign, you should be fine though!

Listeria and mould aren't the same thing. Not even close. Listeria is a bacterium, mould is a fungus. Just because your sandwich was mouldy (ewwww!) doesn't mean it was contaminated with listeria. In fact, if you did have listeriosis, you might be given penicillin for it, which is derived from mould.

Accidentally eating mouldy food is pretty common, pregnant or not. You can call your doctor if you're really worried, and you probably should do that if you start feeling really sick.

I wouldn't worry too much, hard cheese like cheddar is unlikely to be contaminated with listeria. It's normally soft cheeses, under-cooked meats and unpasteurised dairy products that are risky.

Having said that, if you're worried your GP can do a blood test for listeriosis, and antibiotics can prevent it spreading to the baby.

Fever, stiff neck, flu-like symptoms and sometimes vomiting are signs of listeriosis, appearing a few days or weeks after infection. If you feel ill or particularly worried, I'd see your GP.

Ladies thanks so much and thank you for clearing up the bacteria/fungus thing. You are all so knowledgeable. I will keep an eye out for any sickness. As for supermarket, I will pay them a visit after work. Thanks ladies.

Fungi and bacteria are in different kingdoms, biologically speaking, just like animals and plants are kingdoms.

That is so grim, poor you!!
I don't think you need to worry though.

Mouldy bread can cause food poisoning, fingers crossed all ok, drink lots and keep calm xx

Food poisoning and Listeria though are very different beasts. Listeria = dangerous for baby. Normal food poisoning = yuck for you but nearly always not harmful for baby

Thank you ! Took it back to the supermarket and stroppy cashier told me I should have checked the date because it goes out of date on the 20th I.e today. I thought all sandwiches have a one day shelf life. Apparently not. I should have picked up one that goes out of date in 2 days time. Serves me right for not making my own. You live and learn!

If it goes out of date today it should have been fine to eat today! I hope they have you a refund!

WTF? It's the shop's task to check they don't sell out of date food. Which this sandwich was not.

I feel a strongly worded letter coming on!

Ummm... they sold you a MOULDY sandwich, which you ate on the day you bought it, and it's YOUR fault because you didn't check the date on it? It wasn't just stale or a little off, it was mouldy. Is that cashier out of his/her MIND? You should have asked to talk to a manager.

OP, please don't tell us you simply walked away... That cashier is a JOKE. The sandwich with today's date on it should be still fine to eat today. It certainly shouldn't be having any mould on it! Did you ask to speak to the manager?

It happened to me once (before pregnancy) with a fruit salad from Pret. It was mouldy on one side and I went through the trouble to walking back there from office and taking it back. They apologized immediately and replaced it with the fresh one.