Salmonella outbreak leads to product recall
The recall comes amid outbreaks of Salmonella Agona in Ireland and the UK and Food Standards Agency Ireland (FSAI) investigations are being carried out in Northern Ireland where the products have also been distributed.
Dawn Farm Foods’ product in question was used by fellow Irish company, the Kerry Group, in the manufacture of three own-brand sandwich fillers.
The FSAI’s ongoing surveillance of the salmonella situation led it to Dawn Farm Foods and concerns over its chicken, beef and bacon products.
FSAI’s Alan Reilly stated: “Food businesses are reminded that it is an offence to place unsafe food on the market and where they have reason to believe that a food does not meet food safety requirements they must initiate procedures to withdraw the food in question from the market where it has left their immediate control, and inform the competent authorities.”
He urged companies to scrutinise their batch numbers and, if supplied by Dawn Farm Foods, check the FSAI website to ensure they were not recalled products.
The FSAI reminded consumers that thorough cooking kills salmonella and advised them to cook all foods they suspected may be infected with salmonella.
The agency was working with the Irish Department of Health & Children, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the Health Service Executive, as well as relevant agencies in the UK to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
The products in question are:
- Dunnes Chicken and Bacon Sandwich Filler
Pack size: 170g
Use by: 13 August 2008 to 18 August 2008
- O’Brien’s Chicken and Bacon Sandwich Filler
Pack size: 170g
Use by: 13 August 2008 to 18 August 2008
- Supervalu Chicken and Bacon Sandwich Filler
Pack size: 170g
Use by: 13 August 2008 to 18 August 2008
According to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), about 110 cases of illness caused by this type of salmonella have been reported in Ireland and the UK, mainly affecting young adults.
FSAI’s Reilly noted that while Salmonella Agona is not life threatening for most people older people, young children, pregnant women and people who are already sick with weakened immune systems, may suffer more severe symptoms such as diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently adopted a redrafted opinion that maintains the growing use of antimicrobial agents in food could be damaging human resistance to bacteria such as salmonella.
