Premier Will Hodgman says Tasmanian salmon is safe to eat despite listeria deaths

Premier Will Hodgman says Tasmanian salmon is produced to the highest standards and is safe to eat.

SHARES in Tasmanian aquaculture producers have opened steady despite a listeria outbreak linked to local smoked salmon.

Huon Aquaculture shares were down 0.41 per cent in early trading on the Australian Stock Exchange, while Tassal Group shares rose 0.29 per cent.

Two elderly people died in Queensland and New South Wales from listeria infections, the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said yesterday.

The deaths have been linked to Tasmanian smoked salmon

Premier Will Hodgman this morning urged people not to overreact to the reports.

"It is very important to note the fact that the Tasmanian Director of Public Health [Mark Veitch] has advised that there is no evidence of increased risk to healthy people,” he told reporters.

Premier Will Hodgman has reassured salmon consumers. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“A review of processing facilities by biosecurity has not detected any noncompliance by Tasmanian companies with the national food safety standards for seafood.

FOODS TO AVOID: WHO IS AT RISK

“It's also important to note that the information to date while it indicates a link to Tasmanian salmon all relevant authorities and they include within the national jurisdiction are working through these matters and the investigation is ongoing at a national level.

“I'm advised that the salmon companies have strong listeria management programs in place as well as extensive product testing programs.”

Mr Hodgman said the industry was important to Tasmania and the Government would do what it could to assist it deal with the current crisis.

No definitive source of the outbreak has been identified and no product recalls have been announced.

Mr Veitch said the cases in February, May and July were not apparently linked.

“We are still working out and whether there is a link beyond the fact they all appear to have eaten smoked salmon and probably Tasmanian smoked salmon,” he said

“We shouldn’t discount the significance of the infections, as … two people did die, and it was the view of the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer and the state’s chief health officers that it was a good time to put the message out to remind vulnerable people of this range of foods that they should avoid.”