Nearly 50 people – more than 30 of them children – have been hospitalised by a major salmonella outbreak linked to instant noodle pots. The outbreak, which began in November last year, has resulted in 106 cases reported across 14 countries as of June 27, including the UK.
Source of Outbreak
Food safety agency EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) stated: 'Flavoured noodle products are the most likely source of an ongoing multi-country outbreak of infections, with evidence linking the cases to items from the same brand.' While the brand was not specified, cases linked to the salmonella Stanley strain were traced back to a Ukrainian producer.
Company Response
International brand Reeva Foods said in a statement last week that there was an 'alleged detection' of salmonella in a batch of its instant noodles made by Ukrainian manufacturer Euro Food Service. The company withdrew the batches and launched an internal probe, adding: 'The safety of our consumers is our top priority.'
Affected Countries and Cases
Cases have been reported in Austria, the UK, Denmark, Estonia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden. Out of 106 cases, approximately 49 people developed severe illness requiring hospitalisation, including 33 children under the age of 10, according to the ECDC.
About Salmonella
Salmonella is a bacteria that causes food poisoning, typically from contaminated raw or undercooked meat, poultry, raw eggs, or unpasteurised milk. Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever, usually developing within 12 to 36 hours.
