Supermarkets across NSW and Victoria have issued a recall for Barkly Smokehouse's Lux Ham following concerns about possible contamination with listeria monocytogenes, according to reporting by 9News. The 1.9 kilogramme product with a use-by date of May 6, 2026 has been available for sale in independent retailers including IGA stores in both states.
What the data actually tells us is that listeriosis can be very serious for pregnant women and their unborn children, newborn babies, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system. While healthy adults may experience only mild to moderate symptoms if infected, a listeria infection is likely to cause only mild symptoms in the pregnant person, but the effects on the baby can be devastating.
Listeria bacteria can survive refrigeration and even freezing, which creates a particular challenge for ready-to-eat foods like ham. Symptoms usually start within two weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after. Early signs include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhoea. In severe cases, other people may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. For pregnant women, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth and can also cause serious illness or death in newborns.
Australia maintains strict food safety standards to protect consumers from this risk. Australia has strict food safety standards and programmes for Listeria testing in commercially prepared high-risk foods, and foods that have unacceptable levels of Listeria may be recalled from sale. The Food Standards Australia New Zealand website maintains a comprehensive database of current recalls.
Consumers who have purchased this product should not eat it. The meat should be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund. Anyone who has consumed the recalled ham and is experiencing fever, muscle aches, gastrointestinal symptoms or any other concerning signs should contact a healthcare provider, particularly if they fall into a vulnerable group. The signs of listeriosis can take up to two months to appear, so it is important to see a doctor even if you haven't fallen ill immediately after eating the product.