Salmonella Saintpaul is back!
Between June and August last year, I blogged about the US Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak linked to firstly tomatoes and then confirmed in peppers. . On the 20th August 2008, the CDC stated that since April 2008, 1434 people, were infected with Salmonella Saintpaul with the same genetic fingerprint in 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. Before this outbreak Salmonella SaintPaul was a relatively uncommon serotype, causing, on average, 1.6% of all reported laboratory-confirmed Salmonella infections each year in the US.
An outbreak of Salmonella Stanley occurred in the US and Finland in 1995. Alfalfa sprout consumption was identified as the only exposure associated with S. stanley infections. Alfalfa sprouts eaten by patients in 6 US states and Finland were traced to seed shipped by a Dutch shipper. A Salmonella Newport outbreak in the US associated with alfalfa sprouts then followed. In 1997, the US National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods was asked to review the literature on sprout-associated outbreaks and develop recommendations on how food safety issues could be managed and reduced. There have been further outbreaks in 2003, 2004 and 2008 - see link.
There have also been recalls in the UK. In 2004, three products containing alfalfa sprouts where recalled due to potential Salmonella contamination. In 2008, Waitrose Ltd recalled its own-brand alfalfa seeds, due to the presence of salmonella in one batch.
This latest incident started to be reported in early March with a recall initiated on March 4th. Food Poisoning Law Blog has reported that there may now be 100 cases and investigations continue. I will keep you posted!
An outbreak of Salmonella Stanley occurred in the US and Finland in 1995. Alfalfa sprout consumption was identified as the only exposure associated with S. stanley infections. Alfalfa sprouts eaten by patients in 6 US states and Finland were traced to seed shipped by a Dutch shipper. A Salmonella Newport outbreak in the US associated with alfalfa sprouts then followed. In 1997, the US National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods was asked to review the literature on sprout-associated outbreaks and develop recommendations on how food safety issues could be managed and reduced. There have been further outbreaks in 2003, 2004 and 2008 - see link.
There have also been recalls in the UK. In 2004, three products containing alfalfa sprouts where recalled due to potential Salmonella contamination. In 2008, Waitrose Ltd recalled its own-brand alfalfa seeds, due to the presence of salmonella in one batch.
This latest incident started to be reported in early March with a recall initiated on March 4th. Food Poisoning Law Blog has reported that there may now be 100 cases and investigations continue. I will keep you posted!
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