The deputy permanent secretary for public health has warned against pre-packed salad imported from an Australian firm after it recalled the products due to a bacterial contamination.
The New York Times, reporting from Australia, said Australian health officials issued a national recall of packaged lettuce and other salad products on Thursday after 28 cases of salmonella poisoning in the state of Victoria.
The contamination, caused by the salmonella anatum bacteria can easily result in food poisoning as some people eat salads without washing the ingredients, Suwannachai Watthanayingcharoen, public health spokesman, said Sunday.
Consumers who bought these pre-packed salads must dispose of them or return them at the point of purchase. Authorities have been told to block imports of the produce into Thailand, he said.
The warning was raised after the Ministry of Public Health was informed of the problem by the Secretariat of the International Food Safety Authorities Network (Infosan).
Infosan, jointly run by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation, announced on Saturday that Tripod Farmers Pty Ltd, a Victoria-based salad producer, has recalled 25 types of products it exports, including to Thailand, after the contamination was detected.
Salmonella anatum is a common cause of food poisoning affecting more than 100,000 Thais a year. As of Feb 1, some 9,444 people in Thailand had contracted the bacteria this year which usually leads to stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.
A salmonella infection causes gastroenteritis that can last many days. It is not usually fatal, but the health department has warned that elderly people, young children or those whose immune systems are compromised may be at more serious risk.
Frank Ruffo, the managing director at Tripod Farmers, said the company had issued a voluntary recall of some of its products, and was working closely with the authorities. Tripod Farmers employs 400 people, growing lettuce and leafy vegetables, including watercress, sorrel, baby cos lettuce and wild arugula, known in Australia as rocket leaves, in Victoria.