A POSSIBLE link between products from a Co Kildare food company and an outbreak of salmonella food poisoning has been identified by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
In a statement yesterday the authority said it was still trying to establish the exact cause of the outbreak of salmonella agona, which affected Ireland and the UK in late June and early July. It said laboratory testing of foods was providing evidence of a possible link with Dawn Farm Foods Ltd, The Maudlins, Naas, Co Kildare.
The outbreak has caused eight cases of food poisoning in Ireland.
"Information gathered by the FSAI suggests that potentially contaminated beef product was supplied to the Subway chain of food outlets and the FSAI has received assurance from Subway that this product has been removed from sale," the authority said.
In a statement yesterday, the Subway chain said that as a precautionary measure it had voluntarily withdrawn specific batches of "Philly-style steak" and chicken fajita products from sale.
It said that no other products were affected and alternative supplies of the products in question had been sourced. The FSAI said that as a precautionary measure in the interests of public health, all products processed on the same production line as this beef product at Dawn Farm Foods were being withdrawn. It said a list of these products was available and would be updated on the FSAI's website, www.fsai.ie.
"Dawn Farm Foods has confirmed to the FSAI that it is withdrawing selected batches of cooked beef, cooked chicken and cooked bacon products from the made-to-order sandwich trade.
"The FSAI is urging food outlets providing made-to-order sandwiches to comply swiftly and completely with the withdrawal," the authority said.
Dawn Farm Foods said in a statement that it was working in close co-operation with the Department of Agriculture and Food and the FSAI in their investigation.
The company said it considered food safety and consumer protection to be paramount and said all of its products were tested prior to release to the market.
"In support of the investigation and, as a precautionary measure, Dawn Farm Foods has withdrawn certain batches of cooked beef strips, cooked chicken fajita and cooked bacon from trade customers in the catering sector.
"One of our production lines has been closed and no further production from this line will occur until the ongoing investigation in collaboration with the relevant authorities is complete," it said.
Alan Reilly of the FSAI said the investigation was "highly complicated", and was focusing on products from one thermal processing line with a complex food distribution chain.
"Dawn Farm Foods is fully co-operating with the investigation. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has served a compliance notice to detain all products at the plant produced on the production line under investigation.
"To ensure swift product withdrawal, food businesses are urged to check the list of the implicated products on the FSAI website and this list will be updated as new information becomes available," he said.
"Salmonella agona is very unpleasant but it is not life-threatening for most people, who usually make a full recovery.
"However, serious complications can occur for older people, young children, pregnant women and people who are already sick with weakened immune systems.
"Symptoms can include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever.
"Consumers who believe any food they have eaten has made them ill should seek medical advice," Mr Reilly added.