Salmonella Found In Liquid Egg Product
by Patricia Montgomery, LincsMag Writer.
Date: 05 November 2012
There has now been 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, though 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).”
Two cases have also been reported from Scotland and one from Austria.
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.
There have been previous outbreaks linked to liquid egg whites, back 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.
Advice
How can you can 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 of salmonella and how long do they last
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.
How 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.
