Beef pulled amid listeria scare 

Beef contaminated with listeria has been served in the past two weeks in at least three hospitals and more than 30 cafes in the North Island.

A routine test at Waikato Hospital two weeks ago found listeria in the beef served in sandwiches and salads.

For five days the contaminated food was sold at the hospital's cafes and also served to patients for three days.

"The food in question was stopped circulating and further testing was carried out not only on that but other batches as well," says Dr Anita Bell of Waikato Hospital.

The beef came from Leonard's, a meat manufacturer who have been in business 20 years. Owner Doug Leonard says it's the first time it has happened and it came from a staff mistake.

"I know it's an easy throwaway to blame people but we do in this case, we do in this case think it's just a case of someone not completely following the guidelines in entering the factory and handing the product," says Leonard.

The Leonard's you find in the supermarket is safe to buy and eat. The infected batch went to Waikato and North Shore and Waitakere hospitals and also to 31 private cafes in the North Island which put the contaminated meat in their sandwiches.

All of the meat has either been eaten or recalled but according to health officials it doesn't mean the danger is over.

"Illness with this germ can take up to 70 days to develop, and therefore people exposed 30 days ago could yet develop illness," says Dr Greg Simmons of Auckland Public Health.

Listeria is rare with only around 20 people getting it nationally a year, but it can be a killer.

In late 1992, twins died after their mother ate infected mussels during pregnancy. The company's executives initially faced manslaughter charges but they were downgraded and convicted of criminal nuisance.

In this case it is too early to say what punishment if any Leonard's may face.

If you are well, listeria is little threat.  But if you're young, old, pregnant or have a low immune system then you are at risk.  And ironically those are the kind of people you find in the hospitals where the meat was served in the first place.

People who have consumed pre-packaged beef who are concerned about flu like symptoms over the next two weeks are advised to contact their doctor.

To find out more about the causes and symptoms of listeria click here