GENEVA (AP) — A recent report from European food safety and health officials has highlighted an outbreak of salmonella infections linked to flavored noodle products. The outbreak involves 106 confirmed cases of salmonella, primarily affecting children and young adults across 14 different countries.
The initial cases were reported in November, leading to at least 49 individuals requiring hospital treatment. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control released separate statements on Tuesday and Wednesday to inform the public about the situation.
According to the agencies, the flavored noodle products are considered the most likely source of this ongoing multi-country outbreak, with evidence connecting the cases to specific items from the same brand. Although officials did not disclose the name of the vendor responsible, they indicated that the salmonella Stanley strain identified in the cases was linked to a producer based in Ukraine.
Reeva Foods took to the media last week, mentioning an "alleged detection" of the salmonella Stanley strain in a particular batch of its instant noodles, which are distributed in the Baltic market and produced by Euro Food Service, a Ukrainian manufacturer of Reeva products. In response to the outbreak, Reeva has initiated an internal investigation and has recalled the affected batches. The company has also implemented several precautionary measures, including independent laboratory testing, regulatory audits, and enhanced environmental monitoring.
"The safety of our consumers is our top priority," stated Reeva, adding that it is cooperating with authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
The reported cases of salmonella infections span numerous countries, including Austria, Britain, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Sweden. Authorities have cited microbiological evidence indicating that the outbreak strain was detected in chicken-flavored and hot chicken-flavored noodle products in Germany and Lithuania. They expressed the need for further investigation into the sources and pathways of the infection.
Symptoms associated with salmonella poisoning can include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration, and stomach cramps. While most individuals experiencing these symptoms tend to recover within a week, infections can be more severe for young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
