Listeria Alert: Cooked ham, turkey breast, and pork loin recalled

It's a bitter Christmas Eve for some Italian consumers. The Ministry of Health has issued a series of food recalls involving ready-to-eat cured meats and roasts, which have been withdrawn from the market due to possible contamination by Listeria monocytogenes.

The measures, adopted as a precaution in collaboration with producers and large-scale retailers, affect several batches of cooked ham, turkey breast, and roast pork loin.

On December 24, two batches of "Lenti & Lode high-quality cooked ham" and one batch of "Gran fesa di tacchino arrosto" (roast turkey breast) of the same brand were recalled. Both products were manufactured by Rugger Srl at its Santena plant in the province of Turin. Tests revealed a potential microbiological risk related to the presence of the Listeria bacteria, which is particularly dangerous for the elderly, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems.

The day before, on December 23, the alarm had already been raised over a batch of Fior Fiore Coop-branded baked pork loin, produced in the same Turin plant and recalled for the same health reason.

The Ministry's recommendations

In all cases, these are precautionary recalls issued to protect public health. Consumers who purchased products from the reported batches should not consume them and are encouraged to return them to the point of purchase for a replacement or refund. The Ministry of Health reminds that the complete and updated list of food alerts is available on the official portal dedicated to food safety.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious infections, known as listeriosis, which manifest with symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. In severe cases, especially in frail individuals, it can lead to neurological complications and meningitis.