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United Kingdom, Salmonella found in liquid egg product (Health Protection Agency, October 16 2012)
[Source: Health Protection Agency, United Kingdom, full page: (LINK).]
1. The product recall details are as follows:
The product has been sold via the Myprotein? and Nutri Centre websites and Nutri Centre stores. Customer notices are being displayed on the websites and in stores advising anyone who has bought the affected product to phone Myprotein? customer services on 0845 094 9889.
No other Myprotein? products are known to be affected.
For more information please visit the FSA website [external link]
2. Have there been previous outbreaks linked to liquid egg whites?
Yes in 2007, a similar outbreak affecting 70 people of S.Enteritidis PT 1E was associated with consumption of liquid egg product in England, Wales and the Channel Islands, which was also subject to a recall.
3. Has there been cases anywhere else?
Cases have also been reported from Scotland (2) and Austria (1).
4. How can you avoid getting infected with salmonella?
Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. On average, it takes from 12 to 72 hours for the symptoms to develop after swallowing an infectious dose of salmonella. Symptoms usually last for four to seven days and clear up without treatment. You may need treatment if you become dehydrated.
6. How do you treat salmonella?
7. The Health Protection Agency is an independent UK organisation that was set up by the government in 2003 to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and environmental hazards. In April 2013, subject to the usual approvals procedures for establishing new bodies, the Health Protection Agency will become part of a new organisation called Public Health England, an executive agency of the Department of Health. To find out more, visit our website: www.hpa.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @HPAuk.
8. For more information please contact the national HPA press office at Colindale on 0208 327 7901 or email colindale-pressoffice@hpa.org.uk. Out of hours the duty press officer can be contacted on 0208 200 4400.
Last reviewed: 16 October 2012
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Salmonella found in liquid egg product
16 October 2012
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has seen seven cases of Salmonella Enteritidis PT1 following consumption of a pasteurised liquid egg product which was sold through Myprotein? and Nutri Centre websites and Nutri Centre stores. Testing of a sample of the product also showed a positive result for the same type of salmonella. No other products are known to be affected.
The product, a Myprotein own brand ?Free Range Liquid Egg Whites?, was recalled on October 10 by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the company are no longer selling it. The FSA are working to identify the source of the eggs used in the product.
Salmonella bacteria live in the gut of many animals and can affect meat, eggs, poultry, and milk. Infection with this type of salmonella causes a similar illness to other forms of salmonella infection and symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever.
There has been no national increase in this type of salmonella. In the seven weeks from the end of August to 9 October (weeks 34-40) there were a total of 42 non-travel cases of Salmonella Enteritidis PT 1 reported to the HPA (including the seven cases above). This is compared to 48 and 47 cases in the same weeks in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
The 42 cases seen this year have been reported from most regions and range in age from infants to 78 years of age.
There are more females than males (24 vs. 18) with half of the females being under ten years of age. The male cases are spread across most age groups.
Dr Bob Adak, the head of the gastrointestinal diseases department at the HPA said: ?This egg product has been subject to a recall and so we hope that now that it is no longer in circulation that this will stop people becoming unwell. If anyone has any of this batch of product at home then they should dispose of it.
?Although there has been no increase in the number of cases of this type of salmonella over recent weeks we are still investigating whether newly identified cases might be related to this egg product. To do this we intend to interview patients using a food questionnaire. As usual we will be working with our colleagues in the Food Standards Agency (FSA).?
ENDS
Notes for editors
16 October 2012
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has seen seven cases of Salmonella Enteritidis PT1 following consumption of a pasteurised liquid egg product which was sold through Myprotein? and Nutri Centre websites and Nutri Centre stores. Testing of a sample of the product also showed a positive result for the same type of salmonella. No other products are known to be affected.
The product, a Myprotein own brand ?Free Range Liquid Egg Whites?, was recalled on October 10 by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the company are no longer selling it. The FSA are working to identify the source of the eggs used in the product.
Salmonella bacteria live in the gut of many animals and can affect meat, eggs, poultry, and milk. Infection with this type of salmonella causes a similar illness to other forms of salmonella infection and symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever.
There has been no national increase in this type of salmonella. In the seven weeks from the end of August to 9 October (weeks 34-40) there were a total of 42 non-travel cases of Salmonella Enteritidis PT 1 reported to the HPA (including the seven cases above). This is compared to 48 and 47 cases in the same weeks in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
The 42 cases seen this year have been reported from most regions and range in age from infants to 78 years of age.
There are more females than males (24 vs. 18) with half of the females being under ten years of age. The male cases are spread across most age groups.
Dr Bob Adak, the head of the gastrointestinal diseases department at the HPA said: ?This egg product has been subject to a recall and so we hope that now that it is no longer in circulation that this will stop people becoming unwell. If anyone has any of this batch of product at home then they should dispose of it.
?Although there has been no increase in the number of cases of this type of salmonella over recent weeks we are still investigating whether newly identified cases might be related to this egg product. To do this we intend to interview patients using a food questionnaire. As usual we will be working with our colleagues in the Food Standards Agency (FSA).?
ENDS
Notes for editors
1. The product recall details are as follows:
- Myprotein? Free Range Liquid Egg Whites, 1kg
- Batch code: L232203
- 'Best before?: 8 February 2013
The product has been sold via the Myprotein? and Nutri Centre websites and Nutri Centre stores. Customer notices are being displayed on the websites and in stores advising anyone who has bought the affected product to phone Myprotein? customer services on 0845 094 9889.
No other Myprotein? products are known to be affected.
For more information please visit the FSA website [external link]
2. Have there been previous outbreaks linked to liquid egg whites?
Yes in 2007, a similar outbreak affecting 70 people of S.Enteritidis PT 1E was associated with consumption of liquid egg product in England, Wales and the Channel Islands, which was also subject to a recall.
3. Has there been cases anywhere else?
Cases have also been reported from Scotland (2) and Austria (1).
4. How can you avoid getting infected with salmonella?
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water:
- before preparing and eating food
- after handling raw food
- after going to the toilet or changing a baby's nappy
- after contact with pets and other animals, especially reptiles and amphibians
- after working in the garden.
- Keep cooked food away from raw food.
- Store raw foods below cooked or ready-to-eat foods in the fridge to prevent contamination.
- Wash raw fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
- Cook food thoroughly, especially meat, so that it is piping hot.
- Keep all kitchen surfaces and equipment including knives, chopping boards and dish cloths clean.
- Do not drink untreated water from lakes, rivers or streams.
- Do not keep reptiles or amphibians in households where there is a child under 5 year of age, or someone with a weakened immune system.
- If someone has salmonella, wash all dirty clothes, bedding and towels in the washing machine on the hottest cycle possible. Clean toilet seats, toilet bowls, flush handles, taps and wash hand basins after use with detergent and hot water, followed by a household disinfectant.
Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. On average, it takes from 12 to 72 hours for the symptoms to develop after swallowing an infectious dose of salmonella. Symptoms usually last for four to seven days and clear up without treatment. You may need treatment if you become dehydrated.
6. How do you treat salmonella?
- It is important to drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea or vomiting can lead to dehydration and you can lose important sugars and minerals from your body. Your doctor may recommend a re-hydration solution, available from your pharmacist.
- If you feel sick, try taking small sips of fluid, frequently.
- Avoid tea, coffee, carbonated drinks or alcohol.
- Always dilute sugary drinks even if you would not normally dilute them.
- A simple painkiller like paracetamol can help combat any pain
- Sometimes severe cases are treated with antibiotics. If you are given antibiotics it is essential that you complete the course as prescribed.
7. The Health Protection Agency is an independent UK organisation that was set up by the government in 2003 to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and environmental hazards. In April 2013, subject to the usual approvals procedures for establishing new bodies, the Health Protection Agency will become part of a new organisation called Public Health England, an executive agency of the Department of Health. To find out more, visit our website: www.hpa.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @HPAuk.
8. For more information please contact the national HPA press office at Colindale on 0208 327 7901 or email colindale-pressoffice@hpa.org.uk. Out of hours the duty press officer can be contacted on 0208 200 4400.
Last reviewed: 16 October 2012