Consumers are being advised to immediately stop eating a specific batch of The Happy Pear Lovely Basil Pesto following the discovery of dangerous bacteria that could cause serious illness.

The Food Safety Authority has issued a Category 1 recall notice for The Happy Pear Lovely Basil Pesto 135g jars with batch code 5149 and a use-by date of 10th July 2025. The recall was triggered after testing revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, a harmful bacterium that can cause severe food poisoning.

Listeria infection typically begins with mild flu-like symptoms or gastrointestinal problems including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. However, the infection can develop into serious complications in vulnerable individuals, particularly pregnant women, babies, and those with compromised immune systems.

Cork retailers have been instructed to immediately remove the affected products from their shelves and display recall notices at point-of-sale. Wholesalers and distributors must contact their customers to retrieve the contaminated stock, whilst catering establishments have been told not to use any jars from the implicated batch.

The Happy Pear, known for their popular health-focused products across Ireland, has cooperated fully with the recall process. The company has not yet issued a public statement regarding the contamination source or additional safety measures being implemented.

Local food safety experts stress that consumers who have purchased the affected pesto should not consume it under any circumstances. Those who have already eaten the product and are experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention, particularly if they fall into vulnerable categories.

This recall highlights the ongoing importance of robust food safety testing, especially for fresh products like pesto that can harbour dangerous bacteria if contamination occurs during production or packaging.

Consumers can return the affected product to their place of purchase for a full refund. Anyone with concerns about the recall can contact The Happy Pear directly through their customer service channels.