Spanish salami suspected source in Danish outbreak

08-Nov-2017 - Last updated on 08-Nov-2017 at 19:20 GMT

Recalled Noel Fuet Coins

Danish authorities are investigating a foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by chilled sliced salami from Spain.

Salmonella Typhimurium ST19 has sickened 13 people since mid-September, the majority of which are children, said the Statens Serum Institut (SSI).

Of the 13 patients, nine are children under 14 years of age and three have been hospitalized.

Disease cases have mostly occurred in Nordsjælland.

Interviews provide link

SSI said based on interviews with patients it suspects the source of infection is a snack sold in Netto.

Dansk Supermarked Group recalled Noel Fuet Coins due to the link to the outbreak.

Noel Mediterranean Snacks, Fuet Coins 100g with date 4-11-17 is affected.

Fødevarestyrelsen (Danish Veterinary and Food Administration) said it is a ready-to-eat product and if Salmonella is present it may cause infection.

The agency advised consumers who still have product from this lot to discard or return it to the store where it was purchased.

Symptoms of infection include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, fever and vomiting.

The outbreak is investigated between the SSI, DTU Fødevareinstituttet (DTU Food Institute) and Fødevarestyrelsen.

Salmonella in Spanish salami in Sweden

It comes as Swedish authorities are continuing to look into an outbreak of Salmonella type (Typhimurium MLVA 3-19-11-N-311) also linked to salami from Spain.

This profile has never been seen before in Sweden but as some cases had been hospitalized and others had very mild symptoms it was difficult to say if it is more virulent than other strains.

Since the end of August, 57 ill people have been reported to Folkhälsomyndigheten (Public Health Agency).

Zeta Fuet and Rökt Fuet 170g of the Zeta brand was recalled by Di Luca & Di Luca in September. The firm told us at the time it would not distribute any new products until the situation was clarified.

However, Folkhälsomyndigheten said as it is a product with a long shelf life it can still be found in the homes of people.

A total of 20 samples have been sent for analysis and Salmonella has been detected in four of them, including two from unopened packs.