Sainsbury's has issued a "do not eat" recall for its Inspired to Cook Pitted Black Olives after the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes was detected in the product. The Food Standards Agency has backed the warning, and the recall matters because listeriosis can cause severe, even life-threatening illness in vulnerable groups, including sepsis and meningitis.

The recall covers 120g packs with use-by dates of 6, 7 and 10 September. Shoppers who have bought the olives are advised not to eat them and instead return them to their nearest Sainsbury's store for a full refund, with no other products affected. Listeriosis typically causes mild flu-like symptoms but can be serious for the elderly, pregnant women, newborns and those with weakened immune systems; UK Health Security Agency figures recorded 179 cases in England and Wales in 2024, including 28 deaths among non-pregnancy-related cases.