Salmonella Contamination In Seven Cadbury Chocolate Brands

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Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology;  Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Public Health
Article Date: 24 Jun 2006 - 8:00 PDT

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Seven Cadbury chocolate brands have been recalled due to salmonella contamination. The Food Standards Agency, UK, has issued a Food Alert for Action. Cadbury Schweppes responded by recalling the seven brands - they also issued a press notice on June 23.

-- Food Alert for Action.
-- Cadbury Schweppes Press Release

Products should be returned to:

Cadbury Recall
Freepost
MID20061
Birmingham
B302QZ (United Kingdom)

There is a free helpline at (UK) 0800 818181.

The following products are being recalled:

-- Cadbury Dairy Milk Turkish 250g

-- Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramel 250g

-- Cadbury Dairy Milk Mint 250g

-- Cadbury Dairy Milk 8 chunk

-- Cadbury Dairy Milk 1kg

-- Cadbury Dairy Milk Button Easter Egg 105g

-- Cadbury Freddo 10p

Over one million chocolate bars have already been removed from shelves in the UK.

Apparently, a leaking pipe at Cadbury's Marlbrook chocolate factory in Herefordshire caused the salmonella contamination. The fault in the pipe was discovered in January, 2006. Samples were sent to an independent laboratory which identified a rare strain of salmonella (salmonella Montevideo). Cadbury Schweppes says this is purely a precautionary measure. Levels of contamination, they say, are well below danger levels.

The company says people should not be alarmed if they have eaten any of these seven brands. They can contact the company if they want a full refund. The Food Standards Agency is carrying out its own investigation and advises people not to consume the products. The Health Protection Agency is carrying out a separate investigation.

Symptoms of Salmonella Gastroenteritis

-- Sudden onset of nausea
-- Abdominal cramping
-- Bloody diarrhea with mucous is common

Salmonellosis (salmonella infection) has no real cure, only the symptoms can be treated. Less than 1% of cases are fatal. Symptoms usually appear within 6-72 hours after the it enters your body. The patient usually recovers after 5 to 7 days. The main thing to look out for is dehydration. A complication can be when the infection spreads out from the intestines.

If your diarrhea is severe you will require rehydration.

Antibiotics are used when:
-- The illness persists
-- The infection spreads out from the intestines

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today