The outbreak is being investigated both by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA/Fødevarestyrelsen) and Danish State Serum Institute (SSI/Statens Serum Institut), Denmark’s state health research institute. The SSI reported that more than 130 persons may have contracted salmonella poisoning linked to the sale of SMP-supplied infected ground beef product.
According to a statement from DVFA, the multi-resistant strain of salmonella was detected in ground beef by SMP’s own quality control department in Vejen, southern Jutland, where it has a processing plant, on 14 June, and after product was delivered to “several retail chains”. The DVFA said it was not notified of the detection by SMP. The company, it claimed, also failed to inform affected customers or ordered a recall. Moreover, the DVFA stated the link to SMP only emerged following the outbreak of salmonella poisoning when the infection was traced back to the plant in Vejen.
However, Dansk Supermarked is unconvinced by the DVFA’s claim that it was unaware of the outbreak of salmonella until weeks after the infection was detected in Vejen on 14 June, said company spokesman Mads Hvitved Grand. Dansk Supermarked is conducting its own investigation into the matter.
“We were not contacted by Skare Meat Packers regarding the outbreak until August. This was a breach of trust, and we decided to cease all trade with the company. We have also put a series of questions, seeking answers, to the Veterinary and Food Administration. We want to know what the agency knew about the outbreak and when it knew it,” Grand told GlobalMeatNews. The chain added that the company’s decision to end trade with SMP is based on solid “information obtained” about the scandal.
SMP has denied it acted improperly or attempted to deceive customers. “We regret Dansk Supermarked has ceased trading with us. There has been a breakdown in communication between our company, the DVFA and customers. We will prove our probity in this matter,” said SMP’s CEO Kurt Skare in a written statement.