Food scientists and food safety experts say a common misconception that it is safe to eat vegetables while they are still frozen has contributed to an Australia-wide product recall announced on Monday.

Woolworths, IGA, ALDI, Campbells and other independent grocery stores have been instructed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand to pull varieties of frozen vegetables from their shelves for fear they could be contaminated by listeria.

Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology food scientist Gary Kennedy said the recall was a necessary but cautious exercise because risk of illness was only present if frozen vegetables with listeria were consumed uncooked by a vulnerable section of the population.

"If you are a healthy adult you’d have to eat a lot of frozen vegetables to make you sick because most of the potentially dangerous bacteria is killed by the acid in your stomach," Mr Kennedy said.