FSAI Recalls Over 40 Dunnes Stores Salad Products Over Salmonella Risk in Sesame Seeds
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has issued an urgent recall for more than 40 Dunnes Stores Baxter & Greene salad and pre-packed products after it was discovered that sesame seeds used in the items are contaminated with Salmonella. Consumers who have purchased the affected products are advised not to eat them, and retailers have been instructed to remove all implicated batches from sale immediately and to display recall notices at the point of sale.
Background
Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in Ireland and across Europe, responsible for tens of thousands of cases of illness each year. The bacteria can cause a range of symptoms including diarrhoea, fever, headache, and abdominal cramps, typically appearing between 12 and 36 hours after exposure. While most cases resolve within four to seven days without medical treatment, the infection can be severe — and potentially life-threatening — in vulnerable groups including infants, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.
Sesame seeds have been identified as a vehicle for Salmonella contamination in a number of food safety incidents across Europe in recent years. The seeds are used in a wide range of food products, from salads and sandwiches to bread and confectionery, and their widespread use means that a contamination event in the sesame supply chain can affect a large number of products simultaneously. The FSAI has been monitoring sesame seed imports closely following a series of European alerts, and the current recall reflects the ongoing vigilance of the authority in this area.
Dunnes Stores' Baxter & Greene range is one of the most popular food-to-go offerings in Irish retail, with products available at salad bars and in pre-packed form across the chain's stores nationwide. The range includes a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, wraps, and baguettes, many of which contain sesame seeds as an ingredient. The scale of the recall — more than 40 products — reflects the breadth of the Baxter & Greene range and the extent to which sesame seeds are used across it.
Key Developments
The FSAI issued the recall on 8 August 2026, following the identification of Salmonella contamination in sesame seeds used in the Baxter & Greene range. The recall covers both loose products available at Dunnes Stores salad bars and pre-packed items sold in the chilled section. In addition to the Dunnes Stores products, the FSAI issued related recalls for SuperValu Seed Mix (200g) and various batches of Gem Pack and Sysco sesame seeds, suggesting that the contamination may have originated at a common point in the supply chain.
Consumers who have purchased any of the affected products are advised not to eat them, regardless of whether they have experienced any symptoms. The FSAI has set up a dedicated helpline for consumers with queries about the recall, and full details of the affected products — including batch numbers and best-before dates — are available on the FSAI website. Retailers have been instructed to remove all implicated products from sale immediately and to display recall notices at the point of sale to inform customers.
Dunnes Stores has cooperated fully with the FSAI's recall process and has issued a statement apologising to customers for any inconvenience caused. The company has indicated that it is working with its suppliers to identify the source of the contamination and to ensure that affected products are removed from the supply chain as quickly as possible.
Why It Matters
Food safety recalls of this scale are relatively rare in Ireland, and the breadth of the current recall — more than 40 products from a single retailer — underlines the potential consequences of contamination in a widely used ingredient. The FSAI's rapid response to the identification of the contamination reflects the authority's commitment to protecting public health, and the transparency of the recall process — with full details of affected products published online — is an example of best practice in food safety communication.
The incident also highlights the complexity of modern food supply chains. Sesame seeds used in a Dunnes Stores salad bar in Dublin may have been grown in Ethiopia, processed in Turkey, and distributed through a European wholesaler before reaching the Irish market. Tracing the source of contamination in such a supply chain is a complex and time-consuming process, and the FSAI's ability to identify and act on the contamination quickly is a testament to the effectiveness of Ireland's food safety surveillance systems.
For consumers, the key message is straightforward: if you have purchased any Dunnes Stores Baxter & Greene salad or pre-packed products recently, check the FSAI website to see if your product is affected, and if it is, do not eat it. The risk of Salmonella infection is real, and the consequences for vulnerable individuals can be severe.
Local Impact
The recall affects Dunnes Stores customers across Ireland, with the Baxter & Greene range available in all of the chain's major stores. For the many thousands of people who rely on the Baxter & Greene range for their daily lunch — particularly in urban areas where the salad bar is a popular option for office workers — the recall is a significant inconvenience. Dunnes Stores has indicated that it will replace affected products as quickly as possible once the contamination issue has been resolved. The FSAI has also reminded consumers that the recall does not affect other Dunnes Stores products that do not contain sesame seeds from the affected batches.
What's Next
The FSAI will continue to monitor the situation and will update its website as new information becomes available. The authority is working with Dunnes Stores and its suppliers to trace the source of the Salmonella contamination and to ensure that all affected products have been removed from the supply chain. A full investigation into the contamination event is under way, and the results will be shared with the relevant European food safety authorities. Consumers with symptoms of Salmonella infection — diarrhoea, fever, headache, abdominal cramps — are advised to contact their GP, particularly if they are in a vulnerable group.
