Urgent warning over turkey and chicken products amid surge in illnesses

06 December 2023 , 21:23

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Turkey is traditionally served at Christmas (Image: Getty Images)

Brits have been warned about a rise in multiple strains of Salmonella linked to turkey and chicken products imported from Poland.

With Christmas looming, consumers are reminded to always take care when handling and cooking poultry products at home, including chilled and frozen chicken and turkey drumsticks, breasts, thighs and chicken pieces.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is in discussion with officials in Poland and the EU to ensure all necessary steps are taken to improve the safety of poultry and eggs imported from the country. However, there have been more than 200 human cases of salmonellosis caused by specific genetic strains of Salmonella Enteritidis, which have been linked to poultry products such as meat and eggs, this year.

Consumers are reminded to always take care when handling and cooking poultry products at home (Getty Images)

Tina Potter, Head of Incidents at FSA, said: "A number of the cases have involved the consumption of eggs produced in Poland and used in meals in restaurants and cafes. We are therefore asking local authorities to remind food businesses about the importance of good hygiene practices.

"Our advice is to always take care when storing, handling, and cooking poultry products such as chicken, turkey and duck to help reduce the risk of food poisoning to you and your family. You should always check the cooking instructions on food packaging, as different brands of the same type of product might have different instructions.

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"Cooking food at the right temperature and for the correct length of time will ensure that any harmful bacteria are killed. At the same time, make sure that any surfaces and equipment that come into contact with food are clean to avoid risks from cross contamination and always wash your hands before and after handling food."

There have been more than 200 human cases of salmonellosis caused by specific genetic strains of Salmonella Enteritidis this year (Getty Images)

Import controls on food and feed coming into the UK from the EU will allow FSA to check these controls are in place and help to uphold the UK's high food and feed standards and to protect public health. It also reminds consumers to follow cooking and storage instructions on product labels, including the cooking time and temperature. This is important to ensure that the food is safe when consumed. FSA stresses Brits to use or freeze products by their use-by date.

Lesley Larkin, Deputy Director for Gastrointestinal Infections at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: "Salmonella is a type of stomach bug that causes stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Symptoms typically resolve themselves within a few days, however, they can be more severe with fever and dehydration, especially in young children, those who are pregnant and those with weakened immune systems.

"Salmonella can be spread from person to person as well as from food, so anyone affected should follow good hygiene practices, such as washing hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and avoiding handling food for others where possible, if you have symptoms."

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