Australian consumers are being urged to immediately return several varieties of sliced deli meats produced by Gotzinger Smallgoods following the discovery of potential listeria contamination. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has issued an urgent recall notice affecting multiple products that may have been sold in New South Wales and Queensland.
Affected Products and Locations
The recall applies to 1kg packages of Gotzinger Smallgoods brand sliced silverside, roast beef, 4x4 sandwich ham, champagne ham and provincial ham. According to the official alert, these products may have been available for sale in retail outlets and butcher shops across NSW and QLD.
The company's website indicates their provincial ham is stocked at Woolworths supermarkets, though FSANZ warns the contaminated products could have reached consumers through various channels. Consumers should check their refrigerators for any of the following recalled items with specific use-by dates:
Sliced silverside 1kg: All use-by dates up to and including December 20, 2025
4x4 sandwich ham 1kg: All use-by dates up to and including December 13, 2025
Champagne ham sliced 1kg: All use-by dates up to and including December 17, 2025
Provincial ham sliced 1kg: All use-by dates up to and including December 15, 2025
All 1kg sliced roast beef packages have been recalled regardless of their use-by date.
Health Risks and Symptoms
The recall was triggered by concerns the meats may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that causes listeria infection. FSANZ has highlighted the particular danger this poses to vulnerable populations.
"Listeria monocytogenes may cause severe illness in pregnant women, unborn babies, neonates, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals," the food safety authority stated.
While healthy individuals may experience only mild symptoms, the infection can be particularly dangerous for those with compromised immune systems. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms affecting the digestive system include diarrhea, upset stomach and vomiting.
These symptoms typically appear within 24 hours of consuming contaminated food and usually resolve within a few days in healthy people. However, prompt antibiotic treatment is crucial for vulnerable groups as the infection can prove fatal to unborn babies, newborns and people with weakened immune systems.
What Consumers Should Do
Food Standards Australia has issued clear instructions for anyone who may have purchased the affected products. Consumers should not eat this product under any circumstances and should instead return the items to their place of purchase for a full refund.
Authorities emphasize that even if the product looks and smells normal, it could still be contaminated and pose a health risk. Retailers have been instructed to remove the affected products from shelves and display the recall notice at point of sale.
7NEWS.com.au has approached Gotzinger Smallgoods for comment regarding the contamination and recall process. Consumers with health concerns should consult their healthcare provider, particularly if they belong to a high-risk group and have consumed the recalled products.
