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Two sandwich makers supplying UK supermarkets have recalled products because of an E.coli risk, the Food Standards Agency has said.

It’s a precautionary step a week after the UK Health Security Agency said an outbreak had forced some people into hospital.

Products from Boots, Asda, Tesco, Co-op, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Amazon are part of the recall, said the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Asda and Tesco stressed it was a precaution and said shoppers could return the products for a refund.

Greencore and Samworth Brothers Manton Wood are the companies that supplied the products.

It’s understood other manufacturers will issue their own recalls in the coming hours.

The FSA said it had narrowed the source “to a small number of salad leaf products that have been used in sandwiches, wraps, subs and rolls”.

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Symptoms include “severe and sometimes bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever”, said Trish Mannes from the UKHSA.

However, some cases can cause serous complications that can lead to kidney failure.

People are being advised to follow NHS.uk guidance if they become unwell.

“Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using disinfectants to clean surfaces will help stop any further spread of infection,” said Ms Mannes.

People who might be infected also shouldn’t prepare food for others and avoid work or school until 48 hours after symptoms stop.

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The UKHSA said cases had nearly doubled in the last week, with a further 98 bringing the total to 211.

Numbers are expected to rise as testing continues for more cases of the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

Based on 160 cases, 42% of people have needed hospital treatment, the UKHSA added.

Last week, it said cases were linked to a “nationally distributed food item” but didn’t give further details.

E.coli bacteria are normally harmless and live in the intestines of humans and animals. However some strains, like STEC, can make people very ill.

Full list of recalled products:

Aldi Chicken Fajita Triple Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

by Amazon BLT Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

by Amazon Chicken & Bacon Layered Salad
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

by Amazon Chicken Salad Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

by Amazon Ploughman’s Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

by Amazon Prawn Layered Salad
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Asda Smoky Beans and Cheddar Cheese Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda Chicken Salad (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda Chicken & Bacon Club (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda Brie, Bacon and Chilli Chutney (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda BLT (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Asda Vegan No Chick’n Caesar Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda Tuna Crunch Sub Roll
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda Southern Fried Chicken Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda Southern Fried Chicken Triple Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Boots BBQ Chicken wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots BLT (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Cheddar Cheese Ploughman’s (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Chicken Salad (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Chicken Triple (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Delicious Ham & Cheese Ploughman’s (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Halloumi & Greek Style Salad wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Ham & Egg Club (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Mixed Triple (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Southern Fried Chicken Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Spicy Bean & Cheese Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Vegan No Chicken Salad (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Vegan No Duck & Hoisin Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Veggie Triple (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Co-op Vegan Gro Onion Bhaji (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Co-op Mexican Style Bean & Cheese Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Co-op Ham, Cheese & Pickle (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Co-op Ham & Cheese Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Co-op Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 17 June 2024

Co-op Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Morrisons Chicken Salad (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Morrisons Chicken Salad PFS (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Morrisons Gluten Free Chicken Salad (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Morrisons Gluten Free Sandwich Platter
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

OneStop Tuna Crunch Sub
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

OneStop Chicken Salad Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 17 June 2024

OneStop Hoisin Duck Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 17 June 2024

OneStop Chicken Bacon & Lettuce Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 17 June 2024

Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli Peri Peri Chicken Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli BBQ Pulled Pork & Red Leicester Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli Chicken, Bacon & Avocado Focaccia (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli Greek Style Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli Jerk Halloumi Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Chicken Salad Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Chicken Salad Sub
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco BBQ Chicken Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Hoi Sin Duck Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco The Chicken Club Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Tuna Crunch Sub
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Spicy Bean Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Chicken Bacon & Lettuce Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Fajita Chicken Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Summer Edition Greek Style Chicken Gyros Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

The Gym Kitchen Peri Peri Chicken Chilled Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

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US-listed Ulta Beauty swoops on high street chain Space NK

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US-listed Ulta Beauty swoops on high street chain Space NK

A New York-listed company with a valuation of more than $21bn is to snap up Space NK, the British high street beauty chain.

Sky News has learnt that Ulta Beauty, which operates close to 1,500 stores, is on the verge of a deal to buy Space NK from existing owner Manzanita Capital.

Ulta Beauty is understood to have registered an acquisition vehicle at Companies House in recent weeks.

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The exact price being paid by Ulta was unclear on Thursday morning, although one source said it was likely to be well in excess of £300m.

Manzanita Capital, a private investment firm, engaged bankers at Raymond James to oversee an auction in April 2024.

The firm has owned Space NK for more than 20 years.

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Manzanita has also owned the French perfume house Diptyque and Susanne Kaufmann, an Austrian luxury skincare brand.

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Royal Mail to scrap second-class post on some days
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Founded in 1993 by Nicky Kinnaird, Space NK – which is named after her initials – trades from dozens of stores and employs more than 1,000 people.

It specialises in high-end skincare and cosmetics products.

Manzanita previously explored a sale of Space NK in 2018, hiring Goldman Sachs to handle a strategic review, but opted not to proceed with a deal.

None of Ulta, Manzanita, Space NK and Raymond James could be reached for comment.

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Royal Mail to scrap second-class post on Saturdays and some weekdays

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Royal Mail to scrap second-class post on Saturdays and some weekdays

Royal Mail is to be allowed to scrap Saturday second-class stamp deliveries, under a series of reforms proposed by the communications regulator.

From 28 July, Royal Mail will also be allowed to deliver second-class letters on alternate weekdays, Ofcom said.

The post will still be delivered within three working days of collection from Monday to Friday.

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The proposals had already been raised by Ofcom after a consultation was announced in 2024, and the scale back was proposed early this year.

Royal Mail had repeatedly failed to meet the so-called universal service obligation to deliver post within set periods of time.

Those delivery targets are now being revised downwards.

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Rather than having to have 93% of first-class mail delivered the next day, 90% will be legally allowed.

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The sale of Royal Mail was approved in December

The target for second-class mail deliveries will be lowered from 98.5% to arrive within three working days to 95%.

A review of stamp prices has also been announced by Ofcom amid concerns over affordability, with a consultation set to be launched next year.

It’s good news for Royal Mail and its new owner, the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. Ofcom estimates the changes will bring savings of between £250m and £425m.

A welcome change?

Unsurprisingly, the company welcomed the announcement.

“It is good news for customers across the UK as it supports the delivery of a reliable, efficient and financially sustainable universal service,” said Martin Seidenberg, the group chief executive of Royal Mail’s parent company, International Distribution Services.

“It follows extensive consultation with thousands of people and businesses to ensure that the postal service better reflects their needs and the realities of how customers send and receive mail today.”

Citizens Advice, however, doubted whether services would improve as a result of the changes.

“Today, Ofcom missed a major opportunity to bring about meaningful change,” said Tom MacInnes, the director of policy at Citizens Advice.

“Pushing ahead with plans to slash services and relax delivery targets in the name of savings won’t automatically make letter deliveries more reliable or improve standards.”

Acknowledging long delays “where letters have taken weeks to arrive”, Ofcom said it set Royal Mail new enforceable targets so 99% of mail has to be delivered no more than two days late.

Changing habits

Less than a third of letters are sent now than 20 years ago, and it is forecast to fall to about a fifth of the letters previously sent.

According to Ofcom research, people want reliability and affordability more than speedy delivery.

Royal Mail has been loss-making in recent years as revenues fell.

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In response to Ofcom’s changes, a government spokesperson said: “The public expects a well-run postal service, with letters arriving on time across the country without it costing the earth. With the way people use postal services having changed, it’s right the regulator has looked at this.

“We now need Royal Mail to work with unions and posties to deliver a service that people expect, and this includes maintaining the principle of one price to send a letter anywhere in the UK”.

Ofcom said it has told Royal Mail to hold regular meetings with consumer bodies and industry groups to hear their experiences implementing the changes.

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A pub a day to close this year, industry body warns as it calls for cut to tax burden

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A pub a day to close this year, industry body warns as it calls for cut to tax burden

An industry body has warned that the equivalent of more than one pub a day is set to close across Great Britain this year.

According to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), an estimated 378 venues will shut down across England, Wales and Scotland.

This would amount to more than 5,600 direct job losses, the industry body warns. It has called for a reduction in the cumulative tax and regulatory burden for the hospitality sector – including cutting business rates and beer duty.

The body – representing members that brew 90% of British beer and own more than 20,000 pubs – said such measures would slow the rate at which bars are closing.

BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said that while pubs are trading well, “most of the money that goes into the till goes straight back out in bills and taxes”.

“For many, it’s impossible to make a profit, which all too often leads to pubs turning off the lights for the last time,” she said.

“When a pub closes, it puts people out of a job, deprives communities of their heart and soul, and hurts the local economy.”

She urged the government to “proceed with meaningful business rates reform, mitigate these eye-watering new employment and EPR (extended producer responsibility) costs, and cut beer duty”.

“We’re not asking for special treatment, we just want the sector’s rich potential unleashed,” she added.

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Is a comeback on for the British pub?
Horner: Red Bull sacking came as a ‘shock’

The government has said it plans to reform the current business rates system, saying in March that an interim report on the measure would be published this summer.

From April, relief on property tax – that came in following the COVID-19 pandemic – was cut from 75% to 40%, leading to higher bills for hospitality, retail and leisure businesses.

The rate of employer National Insurance Contributions also rose from 13.8% to 15% that month, and the wage threshold was lowered from £9,100 to £5,000, under measures announced by Rachel Reeves in the October budget.

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