KDCA Confirms Additional Group Outbreaks of Salmonella Infection
Seek Medical Attention if You Experience Symptoms Such as Diarrhea or Vomiting
Additional cases of mass food poisoning caused by bread served in school meals have been confirmed in Sejong and Buan County, North Jeolla Province, following earlier cases in North Chungcheong Province.
The "High-Calcium Strawberry Cream Roll Cake" and "High-Calcium Domestic Wheat Choco Banana Bread," which were recalled due to food poisoning outbreaks at a group catering facility on the 15th of last month. Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on the 13th that there have been a total of four group outbreaks of Salmonella infection linked to the consumption of bread products so far. The number of people showing symptoms has increased to 208.
Previously, on the 15th of last month, patients showed symptoms of food poisoning after consuming bread products served at two group catering facilities in Cheongju and Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province. An investigation by health authorities found that the same genotype of Salmonella bacteria was detected in both the food and the patients.
In response, on the 5th of this month, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety suspended sales and issued a recall of the problematic products: the "High-Calcium Strawberry Cream Roll Cake" and the "High-Calcium Domestic Wheat Choco Banana Bread."
These products were manufactured by the food production and processing company Mother Goose and distributed and sold by Foodmerce, an affiliate of Pulmuone. The products have expiration dates of October 12, 2025, and September 21, 2025, respectively.
Authorities subsequently identified two additional cases of food poisoning suspected to be linked to these products in Sejong and Buan. At each of these two catering facilities, the High-Calcium Strawberry Cream Roll Cake was served on the 16th and 15th of last month, respectively.
To date, the number of people showing symptoms is 120 in Cheongju, 35 in Jincheon, 18 in Sejong, and 35 in Buan.
The KDCA is continuing to monitor other facilities that received these products for any additional symptomatic cases.
Ji Youngmi, Commissioner of the KDCA, stated, "We are strengthening monitoring for additional outbreaks of Salmonella infection related to bread consumption," and emphasized, "If you experience symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting after consuming these products, you should seek medical attention immediately. If two or more people at the same facility show symptoms, please report it to the local health center immediately."
According to the KDCA, the incidence of Salmonella infection has been increasing recently as temperatures rise.
Salmonella infection occurs through the consumption of contaminated food and is most commonly transmitted via undercooked eggs or poultry. Therefore, when cooking, food should be thoroughly cooked at a core temperature of at least 75 degrees Celsius for more than one minute. In addition, to prevent cross-contamination, hands should be washed thoroughly with running water and detergent after handling eggs.
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