LONDON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Health chiefs in England have started an urgent investigation following the deaths of five patients in hospitals after eating sandwiches and salads.
A further five patients remain seriously ill in hospitals, suffering from listeria linked to the current outbreak, said Public Health England (PHE).
Initially it had been reported that three patients had died at hospitals in Manchester and Liverpool, but in an update on Friday afternoon, PHE said the number had risen to five.
A multi-agency investigation has started into listeria cases linked to sandwiches and salads served in hospitals.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a statement that he has instructed the National Health Service (NHS) to conduct a full review of hospital food.
"I have been incredibly concerned by this issue and strongly believe that we need a radical new approach to the food that is served in our NHS. Staff, patients and families deserve so much better," he said.
PHE is analysing previously known cases of listeria from the past two months to see if they are linked to the current outbreak.
PHE said affected sandwiches and salads have been withdrawn from hospitals linked to the listeria infections after the first victims were identified.
NHS organisations such as hospitals were told not to provide any food products from the Good Food Chain company to vulnerable patients.
"Sandwiches and salads linked to the patients have been withdrawn and the supplier, The Good Food Chain, has voluntarily ceased production while the investigation continues," said PHE.
"This business had been supplied with meat produced by North Country Cooked Meats which subsequently produced a positive test result for the outbreak strain of listeria. This business and North Country Quality Foods who they distribute through, have also voluntarily ceased production."
Dr Nick Phin, an expert at PHE, said: "To date, there have been no patients linked to this incident outside healthcare organisations, but we continue to investigate. Swift action was taken to protect patients and any risk to the public is low. PHE is continuing to analyse all recent and ongoing samples of listeria from hospital patients to understand whether their illness is linked to this outbreak."
