Sainsbury's is recalling all of its bagged watercress, as well as salads containing watercress, over concerns of an E. coli outbreak.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed that an outbreak of E. coli had made 15 people ill.

The supermarket said the FSA had told it that watercress brought from its stores was "one of their lines of inquiry".

It also stressed that the recall was a precautionary measure, and customers could return the products for a full refund.

A spokesperson for the Sainsbury's is quoted as saying: "The FSA has made us aware that a small number of people have fallen ill with a bacterial infection, and that one of their lines of investigation is watercress bought at Sainsbury's since 1 August.

"Although no traces of contamination has been found in our products we have as a precautionary measure withdrawn six lines of pre-packed salad containing watercress from the supplier concerned."

Investigations into the outbreak are continuing.

The withdrawn lines are:

• SO organic watercress 75g



• SO organic watercress spinach and rocket 100g



• by Sainsbury's watercress leaves 75g



• by Sainsbury's watercress spinach rocket salad 100g



• by Sainsbury's watercress, spinach and rocket 170g



• by Sainsbury's watercress twin pack 2x35g.

(JP/CD)