Meals on Wheels dinners recalled after listeria diagnosis

Meals on Wheels dinners have been recalled in Knox, Yarra Ranges and Monash after an elderly woman died.

The Department of Health and Human Services is investigating the death of the woman after she was diagnosed with listeriosis at an eastern suburbs private hospital on Monday, February 4.

Meals on Wheels dinners have been recalled in Knox, Yarra Ranges and Monash after an elderly woman died.

The Department of Health and Human Services are investigating the death of the woman after she was diagnosed with listeriosis at an eastern suburbs private hospital on Monday, February 4.

Dandenong South commercial caterer, I Cook Foods, has been closed while the department investigates the source of the illness often associated with food contamination.

I COOK FOODS IN DANDENONG SOUTH CLOSED PENDING INVESTIGATION

WOMAN DIES IN PRIVATE HOSPITAL, DIAGNOSED WITH LISTERIOSIS

According to the State Government, the caterer supplied meals to councils across Victoria including Knox, Yarra Ranges, Monash, Whitehorse, Boroondara, Glen Eira, Kingston and Ballarat.

Knox Private Hospital was also on the list.

Knox Mayor Jake Keogh said the department had issued a food safety recall on meals prepared by its Meals on Wheels contractor.

Cr Keogh said council officers worked hard to inform all clients of the situation and organise to get rid of any meals provided between January 13 and February 21.

“As part of this service a fact sheet on listeria has been provided with advice to clients that should they experience any of the symptoms described, they are strongly advised to seek medical advice at the earliest opportunity,” he said.

“In the interim council has sourced alternative meals for all its clients and will continue to provide the Meals on Wheels service as per normal.”

A Knox Private Hospital operator Healthscope spokesman Jared Lynch said the healthcare provider immediately ceased and discarded all food deliveries the caterer.

“We have arranged alternate catering to ensure our patients and staff have access to safe meals,” Mr Lynch said.

“Our patients and their families can rest assured we are taking every action to ensure their safety.”

Knox Private Hospital operator Healthscope spokesman Jared Lynch said the healthcare provider immediately ceased and discarded all food deliveries the caterer.

Yarra Ranges economic and social development director James Collins said the council contacted all Meals on Wheels clients who received deliveries to advise them to destroy all meals delivered fromJanuary 13.

“Clients are strongly advised to seek medical attention from their GP if they have or are concerned about any possible symptomsof listeria, including fever, headache, tiredness, aches and pains,” he said.

“Council has made temporary arrangements with an alternative meals supplier to provide meals from 25 February until furthernotice.”

Monash Mayor Shane McCluskey said about 200 people took part in the Meals on Wheels service every week and they had all been asked to place any of the meals they may have stored or frozen in a rubbish bag.

“We collected the bag from them and reimbursed them for the cost of the meals,” he said.

“When we knew of this incident we moved quickly to put alternative arrangements in place to ensure all our Meals on Wheels participants received new meals from another supplier.”

Cr McCluskey said everyone using the program had been called and provided with information on the symptoms associated withthe listeria bacteria.

Anyone with concerns is asked to contact the Department of Health and Human Services hotline on 1300 651 160.

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