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Deadly salmonella outbreak which has killed one and left at least 50 ill is linked to pre-sliced watermelons from Brazil

By Sean Poulter
UPDATED: 08:51, 3 February 2012


One person has died and at least 50 more have fallen ill from salmonella poisoning which may be linked to watermelons imported from Brazil.

The outbreak, which began in December, is believed to involve packs of ready-to-eat sliced watermelon.

Health chiefs say the public can protect themselves by washing all types of fruit and vegetables.

[i-Source of outbreak? Watermelon samples tested positive for Salmonella Newport]

Source of outbreak? Watermelon samples tested positive for Salmonella Newport

However many are unlikely to wash packs of ready-to-eat fruit, which have become enormously popular and are often sold as a healthy lunchtime snack.

Seventy per cent of the victims are female and include a six-month-old baby and pensioners.

 

The one British fatality was suffering from a number of other underlying health problems.

Details of the outbreak – involving the Salmonella Newport form of the bug –  were revealed by the Health Protection Agency, which is investigating the source alongside the Food Standards Agency.

CONFIRMED CASES

• England - 26
• Wales - 3
• Northern Ireland - 1
• Scotland - 5
• Republic of Ireland - 5
• Germany – 15

Thirty five of the cases were in the UK, with 26 in England, five in Scotland, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.

The same strain of the bug has been identified in a further five cases in the Republic of Ireland and 15 in Germany.

The presence of salmonella was first identified by HPA scientists carrying out routine sampling of a range of foods for the presence of listeria.

The watermelon sampled was imported from Brazil and between ten and 15 of the victims reported eating the fruit in the two to three days before they fell ill.

However the HPA stressed it cannot be certain the victims ate watermelon from Brazil and it is too soon to identify the source.

Brazil is the largest supplier of imported watermelons sold in the UK accounting for around 12 per cent of the total, which equates to around 6,100 tonnes.

Virtually all the major supermarkets import them from Brazil at this time of year. Last night Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose and the Co-op insisted their watermelons were not affected.

Dr Bob Adak, head of gastrointestinal diseases at the HPA, said: ‘Early indications suggest that a number of people became unwell after eating watermelon.

‘It’s important to remember the risk of becoming unwell after eating watermelon is very low. These cases only represent a very small proportion of total consumption.

‘It is always advisable to wash fruits and vegetables – including watermelon – before consumption to reduce the risk of illness.’

Dr Paul Wigley, an expert in food borne diseases based at the University of Liverpool, said: ‘As Salmonella Newport is often associated with cattle or horses, contamination from animal manure used as fertilizer is a potential source.

‘As this appears to be a problem in pre-sliced melon, contamination on the surface could be transferred to the flesh when cut, or contaminated water may have been used in washing the melons.

‘Fruit and vegetables are not the main source of infection which is usually meat or unpasteurised dairy products, but they can be contaminated with salmonella in production or processing.’

Alison Gleadle, director of food safety at the FSA, said: ‘We are working closely with the European Commission, other countries, local authorities and the food industry, to investigate further.’

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Can't believe my eyes. Buying pre-sliced fruit is like buying pre-chewed peanuts. Yummy !

- Jinx, Over here, 03/2/2012 20:58

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My partner has had a lot of the symptons and he had purchased these mixed melon lunch pots from Asda (which included water melon) - He is on antibiotics now, having been sick, diarrhoea and a feaver. There is no way you can wash these small bite size bits of melon. They are just pieces of fruit without the skins and are quick and simple for lunch.

- Debbie, Surbiton,Surrey, 03/2/2012 13:57

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So just how would you wash sliced water melon then?

- huckit P, La La Land, 03/2/2012 12:40

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Another good reason why we should be eating food IN SEASON and not fruit imported from the other side of the globe where we don't know how well the food has been treated. - Hannah, Cardiff, Wales, 03/2/2012 09:09 The fresh produce industry has always been multi-national, if it weren't, the shelves in your greengrocer or supermarket would be very bare without such things as bananas, citrus, grapes, apples, melons and soft fruit, to quote just a few. Just walking through these departments offers a lesson in the geography of the world. Ponder on what fruit is in season at this time of the year in this country and you will realise that your comment is not practical.

- Scotty, Cambs., UK., 03/2/2012 12:37

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You wouldn't buy sliced tomatoes, so why sliced fruit? What's the skin for, for ten points???

- Philip, Bankrupted Britain, 03/2/2012 12:25

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Who eats watermelons in winter???

- SusiQ, Switzerland, 03/2/2012 11:35

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I live in Brazil and I´ve not heard of problems with melons here, it sounds like a packing problem and hygiene issue.

- Tinky Winky, La La Land, 03/2/2012 11:17

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Immature farm slurry is sometimes responsible for this problem in Italy as well.

- Malachy, Belfast, 03/2/2012 10:42

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Be very careful what you buy and eat, the Argies are upset over The Falklands so be warned. They bully their beef, yes I've seen bullybeef for sale.

- Paul, Norwich, England Once Gt Britain, 03/2/2012 10:32

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It is cheaper to buy whole melon !

- jane langley, Sittingbourne Kent UK, 03/2/2012 10:31

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