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Sieber sausage scandal First deaths by Listeria in Wurst?
Following the widespread recall of sausage and meat products on suspicion of Listeria, consumers are becoming increasingly insecure. The manufacturer refuses to shut down its production, the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety justifies its action and consumers are increasingly unsettled by reports of deaths that have already occurred.
According to information from the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety, the health authorities of the federal states have reported between 430 and 662 listeriosis cases to the Robert Koch Institute every year since 2012 in accordance with the Infection Protection Act (IfSG). In the process, infections of a certain type of pathogen were found in molecular methods of analysis in the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Hesse. The proof of the same type of fine specimen in products of the butcher Sieber had the now initiated recall and a closure of the production result.
Listeria was possibly removed from the market and the production was closed to the butchers Sieber. (Image: decade3d / fotolia.com) Four deaths from listeriosis
According to the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety, the particular type of pathogen has been associated with 70 to 80 cases since the year 2012, above all in Baden-Württemberg, but also in Bavaria. "Eight of the sick people have died, with four of them, listeriosis is considered the main cause of death," the state office continues. In the investigation of the outbreak was initially no specific food as the trigger of infection can be identified and the origin of the pathogen remained unclear.
Pork products identified as triggers
Since human listeriosis cases with the mentioned pattern continued to occur in the years 2015 and 2016, "human Listeria isolates of said pathogen pattern were typed more accurately molecularly by means of the newly introduced and high-resolution examination method NGS and classified as a specific group (cluster type CT 1248), "reports the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety. In addition, the epidemiological investigations (extensive questioning of patients or, if applicable, of their relatives) were intensified once more in collaboration with all health authorities. The epidemiological surveys of disease cases in the affected federal states had increasingly revealed that pork products were probably the cause of the infections.
Intensified investigations since February 2016
Since the beginning of February 2016, Bavarian pork products have been increasingly investigated in Bavaria by the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety and in March Listeria was detected in a routinely taken official sample of the product "Original Bavarian Juniper Waste" from the Sieber Gesellschaft für Wurst- und Schinkenspezialitäten mbH. The product was judged to be "harmful" and was followed by a public warning and the recall of the affected lot. Furthermore, the company was then increasingly sampled officially and also led himself to extensive self-inspections. However, further official sampling did not result in a burden above the limit of "10 cfu / g (= colony forming units per gram), so that the criteria for classification as non-safe foods were never met", reports the Bavarian State Health Office.
Cause of the outbreak event
The subsequent molecular-biological analyzes of the Listeria from the "Orig. Bayr. Wacholderwammerl "revealed, however, that the pathogens corresponded to the Feintypmuster the previous outbreak occurrence. Thus, for the first time a food could be assigned to the human outbreak, emphasizes the State Office for Health and Food Safety. In addition, the epidemiological findings on the product (eg distribution area Southern Germany, distribution via certain retail chains) also indicated a connection with the infections. The RKI here assumes a high probability that the "Wammerl" in connection with the listeriosis outbreak event in the period from 2012 to today.
Potential threat to the health of consumers
This month, therefore, was followed by a comprehensive control of the entire operation, although there were only small deficiencies. Nevertheless, numerous other official samples have been taken both at the farm and at retail. "In five other cases, but with a different product range than before, low levels of L. monocytogenes were detected," according to the Bavarian State Health Department. The authorities conclude that, on the whole, there is sufficient evidence that "the products of the company concerned may pose a risk to the health of consumers."
Destroy affected goods
Therefore, the Bavarian State Ministry for Consumer Protection advised against consuming ham and sausage products from Sieber. By the competent district office Bad Tölz - Wolfratshausen the company had been prohibited to bring goods into the market and a recall of goods on the market was ordered. Consumers who have purchased affected products of the company are requested by Sieber Gesellschaft für Wurst- und Schinkenspezialitäten mbH to destroy them. Whether a refund of the purchase price is possible, is not explained by the company. (Fp)