The supermarket has issued an urgent recall notice09:06, 26 Aug 2026Tesco has warned customers about a two-day isolation after one of its products may have been contaminated. The supermarket says the item could pose a risk of food poisoning because it might contain E. coli.‌Its Tesco Finest Mozzarella Pearls & Pesto Orzo Salad has been recalled as a result. The 215g packet has best-before dates of August 25, 26, and 27, 2026.‌The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a recall alert warning customers not to eat the product. It said: "The possible presence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli STEC in the product listed above.‌"Symptoms caused by STEC organisms include severe diarrhoea with or without blood in the stool, abdominal pain, vomiting, dehydration and sometimes haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal."If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should stay away from work, school or nursery until you have stopped having symptoms for at least 48 hours to avoid passing it on to others."‌The FSA added: "If you have bought the above product, do not eat it. Instead, return it to any Tesco store for a full refund. For further information, please visit Tesco's customer services at: tesco.com/help/contact."Tesco has issued its own alert, which will also be displayed in its stores. It said: "We’re recalling three date codes of Tesco Finest Mozzarella Pearls & Pesto Orzo Salad 215g. This is due to the possible presence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), which can cause illness if eaten."No other products sold at Tesco are affected by this recall."‌NHS Inform explained: "Escherichia coli (E. coli) are bacteria that are found in the environment, food, and the intestines of animals and people. Most types of E. coli are harmless and are an important part of a healthy digestive tract. However, some can make you unwell."Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are known to cause more severe illness than E. coli that doesn’t produce Shiga toxin. Symptoms usually take between two and four days to develop, but can start anytime between one and 14 days afterwards.They include diarrhoea, stomach pain, vomiting, fever and bloody diarrhoea. Most people get better within five to seven days, but it can last up to two weeks.Article continues belowNHS Inform added: "A small number of people, mainly children, with STEC infection go on to develop a serious life-threatening condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include peeing less, pink or brown urine, tiredness, swelling, and bruising."This can sometimes lead to kidney failure and death, although this is rare. The risk of HUS is highest in children aged under five years."Anyone with an STEC infection should stay away from work or school until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.