Raw bean sprout contamination linked to extra five salmonella cases in SA

AN extra five South Australians have tested positive to salmonella after eating contaminated bean sprouts, bringing the total number of victims to 244.

• Warning against eating raw bean sprouts after salmonella outbreak
• Consumers, eateries warned following surge in salmonella cases

AN extra five South Australians have tested positive to salmonella after eating contaminated bean sprouts, bringing the total number of victims to 244.

SA Health announced the new figure on Wednesday after testing confirmed the link to the popular Asian garnish.

While the source of the salmonella remains a mystery, the contamination has been linked to the consumption of raw bean sprouts sourced from Queensland and grown and packaged in South Australia.

A spokeswoman from the health department told The Advertiser investigations were ongoing.

The public health warning, announced on Thursday last week, comes as authorities revealed a huge surge in the number of people diagnosed with the salmonella “saintpaul” strain since December last year.

One of the victims included a pregnant woman who was rushed to hospital after suffering abdominal pain about two weeks ago.

MESSAGE: Stay away from raw bean sprouts until contamination issues are fully solved.

Usually, the state records just 15 to 20 cases of salmonella saintpaul annually.

SA Health chief public health officer Professor Paddy Phillips advised consumers — as well as restaurant and cafe owners — to cook all bean sprouts and avoid eating them raw.

“We are working closely with the producers, suppliers and handlers of the sprouts and (we) are continuing to investigate,” Prof Phillips said.

“(We’re) doing forensic investigation of the factories to work out where in the processing the salmonella might be.”

Shopping chains, including Foodland, have notified its stores to pull bean sprouts off the shelves while retailers at the Central Market said they would not restock bean sprouts until the source of the contamination was identified.

Salmonella infection symptoms include fever, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, headache, stomach cramps and nausea and vomiting.

It is the second salmonella scare to hit SA this year after dozens of people across Australia were struck down with the salmonella anatum strain from eating prepacked leafy greens.

The lettuce, supplied by Tripod Farmers in Victoria and sold at Coles and Woolworths among other companies, was recalled from shelves across the nation in February.