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'SPANISH POISIONED EGGS' LINKED TO 2 DEATHS IN THE U.K

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Staff Reporter / 2009-12-04 14:19:20

Two residents at a Sunderland care home who died are feared to have caught salmonella from cheap Spanish eggs. An investigation has been launched by health chiefs examining links to eggs sourced from Spain, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said. It is also understood that the number of claims of food poisoning has trebled.

So far, 443 cases have been reported to the Health Protection Agency this year, compared with 137 in 2008. A FSA spokesman said: "Although there is no conclusive evidence yet, the clusters may be linked to eggs sourced from outside the UK and used in these establishments.

"Investigations are ongoing into a possible link to eggs sourced from an approved establishment in Spain, and the UK and Spanish authorities are working in close cooperation to investigate this."

 

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the UK and is sometimes found in unpasteurised milk, raw meat and poultry, as well as eggs and products containing raw egg.

Tags: Poison, Eggs, Spain, U.k