Not just any product recall: Marks & Spencer pulls mussel meals over food poisoning fears

Food Standards Agency confirms recall of products after reports of illness

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed that three M&S home-brand mussels products have been taken off the shelves and "should not be consumed". (GETTY IMAGES)

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed that three M&S home-brand mussels products have been taken off the shelves and "should not be consumed" if already purchased.

In a statement on their website the FSA says the products have been recalled amid "a small number of reports of illness in the UK." It goes on to say that the company is recalling the products as a "precautionary measure", while investigations take place.

The FSA warns customers not to eat the products and instead return them to the store for a refund.

The dishes involved in the product recall are M&S branded Mussels in Garlic, Mussels in White Wine and Mussels and Clams.

In a brief statement M&S said: “At Marks & Spencer food quality standards and our customers’ enjoyment of our products are key priorities for us."

"We take this very seriously, and as a precautionary measure, we have recalled all packs of M&S mussels, which should not be eaten by customers."

"The affected products have already been removed from our stores. However, if customers have already purchased these products, they should return them to their nearest store for a full refund as soon as possible."

The recall of the popular shellfish meals comes after a year of food scares in the UK, including the horse meat scandal. It follows the announcement from Britain's top medic last week that the superbug MRSA had been found in turkeys on a farm in East Anglia.

Earlier this year a number of shellfish and mussel harvesting sites were closed in Scotland amid the detection of high levels of toxins which could lead to diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). The symptoms of DSP include vomiting, cramps diarrhea and nausea.

The FSA stressed that the withdrawal of the product was precautionary and that no conclusive link has been established between the Mussels and the reports of illness.