Nearly 50 people, more than 30 of them children, have been hospitalised in a major salmonella outbreak linked to instant noodle pots. The outbreak, believed to have started in November last year, has resulted in 106 cases across 14 countries as of June 27, including the UK.
Source of outbreak identified
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) stated that flavoured noodle products are the most likely source. Evidence links the cases to items from the same brand, with the salmonella Stanley strain traced back to a Ukrainian producer.
International brand Reeva Foods said there was an alleged detection of salmonella in a batch of its instant noodles made by Ukrainian manufacturer Euro Food Service. The company withdrew the batches and launched an internal probe, stating: 'The safety of our consumers is our top priority.'
Cases across Europe
Cases have been reported in Austria, the UK, Denmark, Estonia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Sweden. Of the 106 cases, 49 people developed severe illness requiring hospitalisation, including 33 children under 10.
What is salmonella?
Salmonella is a bacteria causing food poisoning, typically from contaminated raw or undercooked meat, poultry, raw eggs, or unpasteurised milk. Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever, usually developing within 12 to 36 hours.
