Ready-to-eat salads sold in high street stores may be carrying the risk of salmonella poisoning, according to the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS). The PHLS has reported 14 cases of salmonella Newport spread across the UK, believed to be linked to one brand of pre-packed salad.
Victims, including a four-year-old child and a 74-year-old pensioner, have been identified in London, Merseyside, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Berkshire, Middlesex, Bedfordshire, and Lancashire. The PHLS has refused to name the retailer or product, but the geographical spread suggests a major supermarket chain is involved.
The PHLS has passed details to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which has not issued a health alert. An FSA spokesman said the affected salad items are now beyond their use-by date and should not be in stores. He advised washing all salad thoroughly, even if sold as ready-to-eat.
This outbreak follows two major salmonella incidents last year linked to lettuce, which caused one death and 361 illnesses. The salmonella Newport strain has previously been found on alfalfa sprouts grown from contaminated seeds. The PHLS estimates that food poisoning costs the UK economy £743 million annually.
