SA Health investigating seven salmonella cases with possible link to toxic salad recalled nationwide

HEALTH authorities predict more South Australians will be struck down with salmonella from toxic lettuce in coming days. Meanwhile, more than 20 people in Adelaide became ill after eating at a suburban cafe.

• ‘Toxic salad’ victim’s absolute agony
• Salmonella outbreak linked to prepacked lettuce

SOUTH Australian health authorities predict more people will be struck down with salmonella in coming days because they have eaten contaminated prepacked lettuce sold in major supermarket chains across the nation.

SA Health is investigating whether seven people with confirmed cases of the identified salmonella anatum strain have any links with the product, which includes prepacked rocket, spinach and mixed leaves.

The lettuce, supplied by Tripod Farmers in Victoria, is sold by Coles and Woolworths and is also used by companies Light n’ Easy and Aussie Farmers Direct. The number of victims in Victoria sits at 54 and is expected to rise.

In an unrelated case, four people were admitted to hospital and more than 20 fell ill after eating at a restaurant in Adelaide’s south.

SA Health chief medical officer Professor Paddy Phillips said the high number of salmonella anatum cases in SA so far this year was “unusual”.

Two people have told The Advertiser of their ordeals after being struck down with salmonella, believed to be from eating the contaminated lettuce in SA.

“It’s highly suspicious — they (the seven cases) may be linked to the salmonella contaminated lettuce from Victoria,” he said.

Prof Phillips said each state health department, including SA Health, was investigating its own cases.

“Those food histories are in the process ... it won’t surprise me at all if there are more cases,” he said.

“Salmonella can be a particularly nasty illness — that’s why we’re going out and telling people about the lettuce, to check their fridges and make sure they get rid of the lettuce or take it back to the place they purchased it.”

Salmonella symptoms can range from mild to severe and include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration and usually occur between six to 72 hours after ingesting the bacteria.

A Woolworths spokeswoman told The Advertiser the outbreak did not affect any prepacked lettuce in its stores in SA but it had affected states including NSW and Victoria.

A Coles statement confirmed the product was removed from sale in SA “following a number of cases of salmonella infection potentially linked to these products”.

Nervous shoppers are expected to ditch bagged salads and turn to old-fashioned whole iceberg lettuce and other substitutes.

Some growers unconnected to the crisis are already suffering reduced prepacked salad orders from supermarkets, greengrocers and restaurants in a domino effect, Produce Marketing Association Australia New Zealand technology manager Richard Bennett said.

The products recalled include prepacked 60g and 120g bags of Coles spinach and rocket and 120g and 200g bags of Coles 4 Leaf Salad, both with use-by dates of up to and including February 11. Pre-packed lettuce with a use-by date of February 12, or after, was safe to eat, Coles said.

Meanwhile, four people were admitted to hospital and more than 20 fell ill after eating at a restaurant in Adelaide’s south.

SA Health is aware of 14 cases of salmonella infection and a further 11 people with gastroenteritis as a result of eating at the cafe.

Prof Phillips said the cases could be associated with a batch of ice-cream made on site with raw eggs and served on January 23.

Tripod Farmers Group farm at Bacchus Marsh in Victoria has been identified as the source of the salmonella outbreak. Picture: Jason Edwards

The recalled affected Coles products are:

— Pre-packed bags of Coles Spinach 60g

— Pre-packed bags of Coles Rocket 60g

— Pre-packed bags of Coles Rocket 120g

— Pre-packed bags of Coles Spinach & Rocket 120g

— Pre-packed bags of Coles Spinach 120g

— Pre-packed bags of Coles 4 Leaf Salad 120g

— Pre-packed bags of Coles 4 Leaf Salad 200g

*All the recalled products only include those with a use by date up to and including February 11, 2016

Other products recalled as advised by SA Health include:

— Supa Salad Supa salad 180g with a use by date up to and including February 14, 2016

— Supa Salad Green Coral 180g use by unknown

— Supa Salad Supamix 1kg use by unknown

— Supa Salad Spinach 1kg use by unknown

— Supa Salad Rocket 1kg use by unknown

— Supa Salad Baby Cos 1kg use by unknown

— Supa Salad ALH 1kg use by unknown

— Supa Salad Spinach 180g use by unknown

— Clear Film Blend use by unknown

— Clear Film Spinach use by unknown

— Clear Film Baby Cos use by unknown

— Wash N Toss Watercress 100g

— Wash N Toss Sorrel 50g

— Wash N Toss Baby Cos 100g

— Wash N Toss Baby Spinach 100g

— Wash N Toss Salad Mix 100g

— Wash N Toss Wild Rocket 100g

— Wash N Toss Kale 100g

*All Wash N Toss products recalled have a use by date up to and including February 14, 2016