At least 40 different types of supermarket sandwiches, wraps and salads have been pulled from the shelves as the watchdog warns against eating them if they have already been bought.
The products were sold by a number of high street stores such as Asda, Boots, Morrisons, Co-op, Tesco, OneStop and Aldi.
So far, 211 cases of suspected food poisoning have been reported, although experts fear the number will rise.
Do not eat warnings have been placed on products made by Greencore, which produces 1.7 million sandwiches a day, making it the world’s largest manufacturer.
A separate warning was also issued for sandwiches made by Samworth Brothers Manton Wood.
There are fears some batches sold at 10 different stores could be contaminated with E.coli, including Asda, Amazon, Boots, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Tesco, OneStop, Aldi and The Gym Kitchen.
Bedbugs – which can kill – usually cause fever, nausea and diarrhea. Her symptoms usually resolve naturally within a few days.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the recall was a “precautionary step”.
Affected products include Aldi’s Chicken Fajita Triple Wrap, Asda’s Smoky Beans and Cheese Wrap and Boots’ Vegan No Duck & Hoisin Wrap.
Others include Sainsbury’s Greek Style Wrap and Peri Peri Chicken Wrap and Amazon’s Prawn Layered Salad.
They are believed to contain certain types of lettuce. The notice affects date codes on products up to and including June 14, 15 and 16.
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Point-of-sale notices explaining to customers why the product is being recalled will also be displayed in all outlets selling the product, the FSA said.
He added: “If you have purchased any of the above products, do not eat them.
“Instead, return it to the store where you bought it for a full refund.”
Greencore Group also said: “As a precautionary measure, we have voluntarily recalled a range of sandwiches and wraps due to a potential food safety risk.
“Greencore adheres to the highest standards of food safety and we are working closely with the FSA and our suppliers to better understand the possible source of any potential problem.”
Samworth Brothers spokesman Manton Wood said: “The FSA has advised the supplier of a salad dressing we use in a small number of products that it should withdraw the product and withdraw it from the market.
“In the meantime, investigations are being carried out into the food chain, which have not yet reached any conclusions.
“A small number of sandwich and wrap lines manufactured at our Manton Wood site are being recalled as a precautionary measure to ensure a high level of consumer health protection.
“No other Manton Wood products are affected.”
It comes as more than 200 Britons are now known to have been struck down by Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC), a rare strain of the bug that causes diarrhoea, in recent weeks.
At least 67 people were admitted to hospital.
The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) said today that a total of 211 cases were recorded between May 25 and June 11.
Of these, 147 were in England, 27 in Wales and 35 in Scotland.
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Only two cases have been recorded in Northern Ireland, although officials say the individual likely caught the bug in England.
Victims include children as young as two, although the majority are young adults.
Darren Whitby, head of incidents at the FSA, said: “Sandwich manufacturers are taking precautionary measures to recall a variety of sandwiches, wraps, pads and rolls in response to findings from investigations by the FSA, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and UKHSA, who are working. to identify the cause of an ongoing STEC outbreak.
“This is a complex investigation and we worked quickly with the businesses involved and the local authorities concerned to narrow down the wide range of food consumed to a small number of lettuce products which were used in sandwiches, wraps, soups and rolls. .
“After a thorough analysis of the food chain, these products are being recalled as a precaution.”
“Infections caused by STEC bacteria can cause severe bloody diarrhea and, in some cases, more serious complications.
“Therefore, we advise all consumers who have any of these products not to eat them.
“The FSA is here to make sure food is safe.
“If there are products on the market that are not, we will not hesitate to take action to remove them.”
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Trish Mannes, Director of Incidents at UKHSA, added: “We would like to thank all the cases that provided information which enabled us to narrow down the likely food product involved through epidemiological analysis of questionnaire data and food surveillance investigations. infection.’
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, also said: “Food safety is a top priority for our members and those who sell or prepare food are well aware of food safety measures.”
He added: “The affected retailers are taking swift action to remove these products from sale and are working closely with the FSA to take the additional measures necessary to minimize the risk to their customers.”
STEC is considered to be extremely infectious, only a few bacteria need to be ingested for a person to become ill.
Symptoms of infection include vomiting, fever, stomach cramps and diarrhea that can last up to two weeks.
But in up to 15 percent of cases, the error can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure.
Children under the age of five are at the highest risk of HUS.
However, it can also affect other vulnerable groups, including the elderly and the immunocompromised.
STEC is primarily spread by eating contaminated food, such as raw vegetables that have not been properly washed or stored, or from undercooked meat.
It can also be spread by touching infected animals or their droppings, either directly or through contaminated water.
People can also transmit the bug through direct content, such as caring for a child who is sick and then touching their face and mouth without washing their hands properly.
One of those hospitalized with serious symptoms was former golf course manager Christopher Holmes, 76.
He was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent, with diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps.
Doctors were initially confused as to what caused the symptoms, but tests later showed he had contracted STEC E.coli and he was moved to an isolation room.
Daughter Lea, 54, from Deal, Kent, said: “It was terrible. We don’t know what caused it.
“He doesn’t eat red meat or fish and is generally not a big eater. He is very hygienic and always cooks things right.
“All he thought it could be was a salad. He ate a lot of salads before he got sick.
“He’s been on jelly, ice creams and soups for the past few days. It was all quite overwhelming for him.’
Food safety professor Nicola Holden said people should maintain good kitchen hygiene – and be especially careful when barbecuing during warm weather.
“It’s a particularly nasty strain of E.coli and we have a high rate of hospitalisation,” she told Radio 4’s Today programme.
“People can make sure they are very vigilant about hand washing and follow advice from food standards agencies about keeping their food safe and practicing good kitchen hygiene.
“Barbecue season is approaching. People need to make sure those beef burgers are cooked thoroughly and not, for example, raw in the middle.”
People have been advised to contact NHS 111 or their GP if they or their children show any symptoms of E.coli infection.
In children under five, this may include a lack of interest in breastfeeding or bottle feeding and signs of dehydration such as fewer wet nappies.
Adults and children are advised to call NHS 111 or their GP if they have been vomiting for two days or have had diarrhea for a week.
Anyone with bloody diarrhea or bleeding from the gout should call NHS 111 or their GP straight away.