By Stephen Peter
Many people will not like this message at all! Salmonella infections after eating chicken kebabs have been reported in several European countries. According to the authorities, there has even been one death in Austria.
“Danger to life food!” – this is how the Austrian “Kronen Zeitung” reports on the current salmonella diseases in the Alpine republic. The newspaper speaks of a “spectacular food scandal”.
Austria’s health authority AGES informed on Wednesday about a probable connection between salmonella diseases in several European countries and chicken kebabs from Poland. In Austria alone, 27 people fell ill between February and the beginning of July, one of whom died!
There have also been cases of illness in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark and Norway. According to the “Kronen Zeitung”, there are already more than 100 cases, some of which have to be treated in the hospital.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin on Wednesday: Ten salmonella cases were registered in Germany! “There are currently three outbreaks,” the authority said.
According to the “Kronen Zeitung”, the illness in a man (60) was so severe that he died as a result. The Austrian authorities traced the origin of the infections after almost all of those infected said they had eaten chicken kebab shortly before. Further investigation revealed that all affected locals used skewers from Poland.
Between March and August, Poland informed other European countries nine times about salmonella-contaminated chicken kebabs. According to the Polish Ministry of Agriculture, Poland is the largest producer of poultry meat in the EU.
Salmonella scandals are common in the food industry. The chocolate manufacturer Ferrero had to partially shut down production at its Belgian factory in Arlon in July after salmonella had been discovered again at the factory.
Just last year, the Italian group had to recall several products (including “surprise eggs” and “children’s chocolate”) because of salmonella. At that time, 128 illnesses were diagnosed after consumption in Great Britain alone.
What you need to know: Salmonella can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach cramps. They are one of the most common foodborne infections. Babies, small children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to the more severe course of the disease.