Authorities act against Spanish firm linked to Salmonella outbreak

Spanish health authorities have ordered the temporary suspension of some parts of a company linked to a Salmonella outbreak in France.

The Public Health Agency of Catalonia (ASPCAT) said the action concerning fuet and espetec sausage production at Embutidos Sola had been taken based on the precautionary principle.

ASPCAT also ordered the withdrawal of all fuet and espetec products made by Embutidos Sola with health marks ES10.12147/B or ES10.01924/B of any lot, format and presentation.

Public health officials in France are investigating an outbreak suspected to be caused by fuet, a type of sausage from Spain produced by Embutidos Sola. Eighteen patients became ill between July 8 and Aug. 3, according to Santé publique France.

All patients, including 12 children, reported eating the Spanish dry-cured sausage. Several batches consumed by patients were found to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Expansion of alert
The foodborne outbreak is caused by Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Rissen. Implicated products were also sent to Andorra, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, Romania and the United Kingdom.

No patients have been reported in Spain, according to the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN).

AESAN first reported the issue of product contamination with Salmonella in early September and alerts have been updated five times through the Coordinated System for the Rapid Exchange of Information (SCIRI).

Various brands including Cabanes, Embutidos Solà, La Granja, Calet, Solà i Masó, Don Teo, Cambasec, Sanglier, Fran-per, Vic d’Or, Tapas Pape, Julian Mairal and Reketukas are affected.

Officials advised people who have affected products at home to not consume them and instead return items to the point of purchase.

In 2018, French authorities reported a foodborne outbreak caused by monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium 1,4,[5],12:i:-) in fuet sausage from Spain but it is not known if the incidents are connected.

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has eaten any of the implicated food and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization. Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

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