The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is concerned because several children are seriously ill from E. coli infection after eating ground meat products. The outbreak is not under control. This is revealed in a press release. Infection has so far been detected in 20 people. More than half of those infected are children under the age of 13, and 7 of these have developed a serious illness, according to FHI. – This is a serious situation and many young children have become particularly ill. This is the largest EHEC outbreak we have had in Norway, says section leader Susanne Hyllestad at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI). EHEC is one of several groups of disease-causing E.coli bacteria. E.coli The vast majority of E. coli bacteria are usually harmless and do not cause illness as long as they stay in the intestine. However, there are some groups of E. coli that can cause intestinal infections in humans. The four most common groups of disease-causing E.coli bacteria are EHEC, EIEC, EPEC and ETEC. The most serious variant is EHEC. The EHEC bacteria can cause diarrhoea, which is sometimes bloody. It can last 4–10 days in adults and somewhat longer in children. Some forms of the EHEC bacteria can in rare cases cause serious complications in the form of the serious kidney disease hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), especially in children and the elderly. Other types of the EHEC bacteria can cause a milder disease picture. Prevention of illness Good hand and kitchen hygiene is important. Wash hands after using the toilet, after contact with animals and before cooking and eating. Wash knives, cutting blades and kitchen equipment that have been contaminated by raw materials before using the equipment for other food. Keep raw meat well separated from other foods, especially those you are going to eat raw or those that have already been heat-treated. Source: Norwegian Institute of Public Health Demanding infection tracking Hamburgers and other meat products contain bacteria that are identical to those that have made people sick, according to the investigation carried out by the Food Safety Authority, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI), the Veterinary Institute and municipal superintendents. In September, Nordfjord Kjøtt withdrew several products after suspicions that hamburgers contained E.coli. At that time, 15 people were registered with the gastrointestinal bacteria. In the weeks that followed, a further five people contracted the infection, several of whom were children. – We saw that there were several cases that can be blamed on the outbreak. And then the case took a new turn, says section leader Susanne Hyllestad at FHI. E. COLI OUTBREAK: In September, Nordfjord Kjøtt recalled several different products made with the same raw material. Photo: NTB The Norwegian Food Safety Authority says it is too early to say whether the latest cases can be linked to the same meat products. – We know that exactly the bacteria that made the patients sick was in frozen hamburgers from Nordfjord. But they have, together with us, withdrawn a large part which they think is covering. At the same time, it is demanding work, so we are not sure that we have completely got to the bottom of it, says Catherine Signe Svindland, senior adviser at the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Senior adviser Catherine Signe Svindland in the Norwegian Food Safety Authority says the tracking work is demanding. Photo: Magnus Brattset Drabløs / news Serious illness What makes FHI extra worried now are two things: How serious the illness is for several of the children and the uncertainty surrounding whether there may be new cases. EHEC bacteria can cause different disease development and severity. It can vary from no symptoms or uncomplicated diarrhea to severe cases of bloody diarrhea. In some cases, EHEC infection can cause the serious complication HUS (Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome), which can lead to acute kidney damage. – It is a very serious situation, as we see it, says Hyllestad in FHI. It is especially children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems who are at risk of developing HUS. Advice to avoid infection with gastrointestinal infections – Deep-fry or overcook all processed food (including hamburgers, meatballs, minced meat and the like), as well as whole pieces of pork and poultry. – Whole pieces of meat (beef, steak, fillet and the like) should be well cooked on the surface – Wash your hands well if you have handled meat and meat products, including frozen ones. – Maintain good kitchen hygiene, also when grilling outside. – Wash used knives, scissors and kitchen equipment before the equipment is used for other food. – Vegetables and salads that are to be eaten raw should be rinsed well and dried. – Avoid unpasteurized milk and products made from unpasteurized milk. – Wash your hands after using the toilet, after contact with animals and before cooking and eating. – Hot food that is to be stored and used later should be cooled down quickly before storage and reheated well before use. – Avoid non-disinfected drinking water, and if in doubt about the drinking water quality, you should use bottled water. Up to 10 per cent of children with HUS develop permanent kidney damage, in the worst case it can be fatal. The 20 who have fallen ill so far were ill in the period between July and September. Everyone is infected in Norway. They are aged from 1 to 55 and live in Trøndelag (11), Viken (4), Vestfold and Telemark (2), Innlandet (1), Møre and Romsdal (1) and Nordland (1). No more products The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and Nordfjord Kjøtt confirm that it is not currently appropriate to withdraw more products from shop shelves. Nordfjord Kjøtt only wants to respond in writing, after the latest infection figures were presented: “Nordfjord Kjøtt works closely with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to assist in their investigations. At the present time, we have no indications that this applies to more products and production dates than those that have already been removed from the market.” On the basis of suspicions from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority about bacteria in raw material, Nordfjord Kjøtt AS recalled frozen Hamburger Classic best before 24.03.24 and 25.03.24 and Big Beef Burger Thick and Juicy with the last consumption date 16.07.23. Photo: Nordfjord Kjøtt AS / NTB Rema 1000, which is the main supplier of products from Nordfjord, writes that they are in close dialogue with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and Nordfjord Kjøtt: – All the affected products were removed from our stores in mid-September, and none of them the product happened to be on the market, says quality manager Lydia Lineikro. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority says they are now working to find out more about the background for the latest cases of infection. It is currently unknown whether it is product that has been frozen in people’s homes over a certain period, or whether it is other products, from different producers, which are still on the shop shelves. Several new cases, where several children are seriously ill with acute kidney damage, caused the FHI and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to issue a new warning on Tuesday evening, according to section leader Susanne Hyllestad in the FHI. Photo: Jon Bolstad / news Roasting can prevent illness FHI says that there are several steps people can take now to be sure to prevent serious illness. – The most important thing people themselves can do to reduce the risk of getting sick is to thoroughly fry hamburgers, minced meat and other minced meat products, says Hyllestad. The E. coli bacteria die in extreme heat, but survive freezing. Therefore, both fresh and frozen products must be thoroughly cooked, is the clear message from FHI. In addition, it is important to wash hands and equipment after handling both fresh and frozen meat, she adds.
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– Children can get acute kidney damage – news Vestland
