j.m@talk
07-21-2006, 11:35 PM
Contaminated Cadbury's chocolate was the most likely cause of a salmonella outbreak, a team of experts have confirmed.
Up to 37 of the 56 cases reported between March and July are linked to the products.
It is the first time the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has officially named Cadbury's as the likely cause since it recalled a million chocolate bars.
The group presented its findings to the Salmonella Montevideo Outbreak Control Team (OCT).
In a statement, the OCT said: "After carefully considering all the available evidence, the OCT concluded that consumption of products made by Cadbury Schweppes was the most credible explanation for the outbreak of S. Montevideo."
Cadbury bosses insisted the firm's products were "perfectly safe" when they ordered the recall of chocolate across seven product lines last month.
But an OCT investigation showed the strain of Salmonella Montevideo in samples taken from Cadbury's factories matched the one which caused the outbreak.
Cases of salmonella infection dropped after the bars were recalled, investigators noted.
Cadbury's blamed the contamination on a leaking pipe at one of its main factories in Marlbrook, Herefordshire.
The firm said in a statement today: "We're sorry to hear that people have been unwell.
"We've already announced that we have changed our protocol because we understood that the consumers' desire for no risk at all is paramount.
"Any product showing any traces of salmonella will be destroyed."
The HPA's statement said: "The geographical distribution of cases suggests that the outbreak was caused by a nationally distributed food."
A spokesman said the number of salmonella cases reported in England and Wales since March was equivalent to the usual number for an entire year.
The OCT is made up of representatives from the HPA, the Food Standards Agency, Defra and selected local authorities.
http://static.sky.com/images/skynews/skynews_logo_rb.gif
:mad:
Up to 37 of the 56 cases reported between March and July are linked to the products.
It is the first time the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has officially named Cadbury's as the likely cause since it recalled a million chocolate bars.
The group presented its findings to the Salmonella Montevideo Outbreak Control Team (OCT).
In a statement, the OCT said: "After carefully considering all the available evidence, the OCT concluded that consumption of products made by Cadbury Schweppes was the most credible explanation for the outbreak of S. Montevideo."
Cadbury bosses insisted the firm's products were "perfectly safe" when they ordered the recall of chocolate across seven product lines last month.
But an OCT investigation showed the strain of Salmonella Montevideo in samples taken from Cadbury's factories matched the one which caused the outbreak.
Cases of salmonella infection dropped after the bars were recalled, investigators noted.
Cadbury's blamed the contamination on a leaking pipe at one of its main factories in Marlbrook, Herefordshire.
The firm said in a statement today: "We're sorry to hear that people have been unwell.
"We've already announced that we have changed our protocol because we understood that the consumers' desire for no risk at all is paramount.
"Any product showing any traces of salmonella will be destroyed."
The HPA's statement said: "The geographical distribution of cases suggests that the outbreak was caused by a nationally distributed food."
A spokesman said the number of salmonella cases reported in England and Wales since March was equivalent to the usual number for an entire year.
The OCT is made up of representatives from the HPA, the Food Standards Agency, Defra and selected local authorities.
http://static.sky.com/images/skynews/skynews_logo_rb.gif
:mad: