Belgium - Salmonella-contaminated eggs: an unprecedented outbreak affects at least 306 people

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Salmonella-contaminated eggs: an unprecedented outbreak affects at least 306 people in Belgium

The products in question were distributed by various supermarket chains, including Aldi, Colruyt, Carrefour and Delhaize.

Belgium is facing the largest salmonella outbreak ever recorded on its territory. At least 306 people have now fallen ill after consuming contaminated eggs from a poultry farm in the Campine region, the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) confirmed on Tuesday. However, this figure could be an underestimate, as not all those affected necessarily consult a doctor, notes HLN .

Origin of the contamination

This salmonella outbreak is attributed to the egg producer Laerco, located in Geel, and the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA) has since shut down the entire poultry operation. The affected products are free-range eggs bearing the marking codes 2-BE-1073-01, 2-BE-1073-02, 2-BE-1073-03, and 2-BE-1073-04, which were distributed by various supermarket chains, including Aldi, Colruyt, Carrefour, and Delhaize. Batches have also been withdrawn from the market in at least eight other countries, including the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Portugal.

The salmonella bacteria, detected at the end of April, led to an initial widespread recall of all eggs from the Geel farm in May. Although the measures were subsequently refined and the contamination was initially deemed limited to a single henhouse, the persistence of reported cases of salmonellosis prompted further testing, revealing contamination in a second henhouse. The Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA) then decided to seal off the entire farm and organize another recall.

Health risks

Salmonella is a bacterium found primarily in raw meat, eggs, and dairy products. Contamination can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting 12 to 96 hours after consumption. While the illness often resolves spontaneously within a few days, it can be more severe in vulnerable individuals, including young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

Oeufs contaminés par la salmonelle: une épidémie sans précédent touche au moins 306 personnes en Belgique

Les produits concernés ont été distribués par différentes chaînes de supermarchés, dont Aldi, Colruyt, Carrefour et Delhaize.

www.bruxellestoday.be

 

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The outbreak is not over: 318 people are ill after consuming eggs contaminated with salmonella.

5 hours ago

Four new cases of salmonella have been detected in Belgium, bringing to 318 the number of people who have fallen ill after consuming contaminated eggs, Sciensano said in a new report on Wednesday.

Info By the editorial staff with Belga

The epidemic is therefore not yet over, according to the health institute. However, it is normal that after the implementation of measures, a phase in which the number of new cases gradually decreases is observed. " This corresponds to the forecasts ," adds Sciensano.

The contamination was detected at the end of April, which led to a first large-scale recall in May, during which all eggs from the Laerco farm in Geel were withdrawn from the market . It was then determined that the contamination originated from only one of the operator's four chicken houses.

But as the number of new salmonella cases continued to rise, further tests were carried out. These revealed that a second chicken coop was implicated. Consequently, all production was suspended.

The affected eggs bear the codes 2-BE-1073-01, 2-BE-1073-02, 2-BE-1073-03, and 2-BE-1073-04. They were sold, in particular, at Carrefour and Aldi stores. These eggs should not be consumed and can be returned to the point of sale where they were purchased for a refund.

Salmonella is a bacterium found primarily in (raw) meat, eggs, and dairy products. An infection can cause gastrointestinal problems, often accompanied by fever, within 12 to 96 hours of consuming a contaminated product. Symptoms may be more severe in young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

L’épidémie n’est pas terminée : 318 personnes malades après avoir consommé des œufs contaminés à la salmonelle - RTBF Actus

L’épidémie n’est donc pas encore terminée, selon l’institut sanitaire. Il est toutefois normal qu’après la mise...

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