Adelaide man describes ‘absolute agony’ after contracting salmonella from allegedly contaminated lettuce

AN Adelaide man has described his “absolute agony” when he was struck down with salmonella after consuming lettuce he believes to have been contaminated, as the outbreak spreads nationally.

Tripod Farmers Group farm and surrounds 540 Bacchus Marsh Rd Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Allegedly the company has had a salmonella outbreak amongst some of its pre packaged lettuce. Picture: Jason Edwards

AN ADELAIDE man has described the moment he passed out and thought he was about to die after contracting salmonella, as Coles and Woolworths recall salad products throughout the country.

It comes as the outbreak, which originated at Tripod Farmers’ Bacchus Marsh farm in Victoria, appears to be spreading to other states and food delivery companies.

SEE THE LIST OF PRODUCTS AFFECTED IN SA HERE

SA Health chief medical officer Professor Paddy Phillips this morning said there had been no confirmed cases in SA. However six people in SA had been diagnosed with the rare strain of salmonella linked to the lettuce outbreak.

Adelaide resident Rob McKibbin, said he fell violently ill last week after eating Woolworths Select Salad Mix on Sunday, January 31. However a Woolworths spokeswoman insisted to The Advertiser the outbreak did not affect any prepacked lettuce in SA.

Mr McKibbin, who has not yet officially confirmed whether his illness was related to the salad products, was taken to Modbury Hospital after “passing out” and was later diagnosed with salmonella.

“I passed out at 3am (last) Wednesday. I thought I was dying and I thought “Well goodbye life’,” he said.

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“The first seven days was just a blur. The entire week was a blur — absolute agony every 10-15 minutes the cramping would come back, waves of pain, and then running to the toilet.

“I’m getting better now but I have to go weekly and get tested — it will take a couple of months for salmonella to exit the system entirely and in the meantime I am avoiding contact with my grandchildren.”

His symptoms included diarrhoea, severe cramps and dehydration.

Tripod Farmers’ Bacchus Marsh property. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mr McKibbin said he feared suffering reactive salmonella arthritis in the next few months.

He has already contacted class action lawyers Maurice Blackburn to explore his options.

Another South Australian resident, who wished not to be named, said she and her colleague had contracted salmonella.

“I purchased a Coles 4 Leaf Salad bag from Mount Barker on Monday and consumed some Monday and some Tuesday. I fell very sick Wednesday with vomiting, fever, headache and dizziness,” she said.

“I was discharged from hospital last night, only at work today as I have way too much to do.”

Melbourne resident Lucy Fortey said she and her family were this week struck down with what she thought was gastro, after consuming 500g Wash n’ Toss Rocket Leaves from a corner store.

“My kids had three days off school. I thought it was gastro until I saw news of the recall last night,” she said.

“If it is salmonella, we have been pretty lucky as I would have thought we would have been more sick, but I have heard you can get a mild dose.”

Meanwhile, meal delivery company Light n’ Easy has confirmed some of its meals were affected.

“We are contacting all customers who have received any affected lunches via email and SMS with further instructions,” the company said via Facebook.

MORE PAIN: WOMAN ALLEGEDLY FINDS GIANT SPIDER IN WOOLIES SALAD BAG

“Customers in WA are NOT affected by the recall as a different, local supplier is used there.

“We would like to assure all of our customers that we have taken immediate steps to replace the lettuce supplier in question with a new supplier and that any salad meals in next week’s menu (Week B) will not be effected by the current recall.”

The Advertiser understands the two sickest patients, both from Victoria, spent several days in hospital after eating lettuce grown by Tripod Farmers, one of Australia’s biggest growers.

The outbreak has come from the company’s Bacchus Marsh farm and has sparked the voluntary recall of at least 20 products at Coles and Woolworths supermarkets nationwide.

Twenty eight cases have so far been reported in Victoria, including at least one child. But the Victorian Department of Health is bracing for an onslaught of calls from worried salad lovers and warn it could be the “tip of the iceberg”.

The department’s senior medical advisor Dr Finn Romanes said anyone who had become sick with six-72 hours of eating a ready-bagged lettuce product should seek medical advice to determine if they have been infected with salmonella.

“Salmonella infections are pretty nasty and can give you quite a nasty gastroenteritis that involves diarrhoea, vomiting and fever, and can go on for a number of days,” Dr Romanes said.

The shelves at Coles in Elizabeth St, Melbourne. Picture: Ellen Smith

The first cases were detected in late December but were not linked to lettuce until dozens more cases emerged in January and it was discovered most had eaten the pre-packaged products.

Tests of Tripod Farmers products then found bacteria matching the exact salmonella strain in the patients, which usually only infects a handful of Victorians a year.

With almost a third of Australians consuming pre-packaged lettuce daily during summer months, health authorities fear the toll from the outbreak could rise significantly.

People with affected products with a best-before date leading up to and including February 14 are urged to return them or throw them out.

Health officials and Moorabool Shire Council workers had gone to the farm to investigate and oversee a clean-up.

“We don’t yet have a clear explanation of the contamination event may have occurred.

“But, as a precaution, a full clean up the factory has been undertaken.”

Tripod Farmers did not return requests for comment prior to publication.

The alert prompted supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths to issue recalls in several states, and offer refunds for returned goods.

FEELING A LITTLE GREEN?

Symptoms of salmonellosis usually occur between six and 72 hours after ingesting the bacteria, with the most common being diarrhoea (which may contain blood or mucous), fever, headache, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration, especially among infants and the elderly.

In rare cases, septicaemia (local infection) may develop as a complication of salmonellosis.

Anyone who has become sick within six to 72 hours of eating a ready-bagged lettuce product should seek medical advice and have a stool test to determine if they have been infected with salmonella. 

Recalled products.

Originally published as Adelaide man describes ‘absolute agony’ after contracting salmonella from allegedly contaminated lettuce