A Salmonella outbreak is linked to Filicetti Dry Sausages in Ontario and Quebec in Canada, according to Public Health Canada. These ready-to-eat mild, dry, cured sausages were recalled on October 16, 2019 after this product, along with others, tested positive for the pathogen.
More laboratory testing was completed after the recall was issued. Both the recalled sausages and isolate taken from patients have the same genetic strain of Salmonella bacteria. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued an updated food recall warning after identifying more possibly affected products.
Canadians are advised not to eat any of the recalled products. Food service establishments are advised not to sell or serve these products, or any items that may have been made with these sausages. The government is conducting a food safety investigation which may lead to the recall of more products.
As of October 23, 2019 ,there are 12 confirmed cases of Salmonella Litchfield illnesses. This is a rare strain of Salmonella that is not commonly seen in Canada. The case count by province is: Ontario (10), and Quebec (2). The illness onset dates range from May to September, 2019. One person was hospitalized because they were so ill. No deaths have been reported. The patient age range is from 4 to 81 years.
The patient case count may grow because there is a lag between when a person gets sick, sees their doctor, is tested, and that result reported to the government. That reporting time frame is about 4 to 5 weeks. In addition, most people do not seek medical care when they contract this infection, so there could be many more people ill in this particular outbreak.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection typically start 12 to 72 hours after exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms include a fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal and stomach cramps and pain, and diarrhea that may be bloody. This infection can be spread person-to-person.
If you have any of these recalled sausage products in your home, discard them in a sealed container or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Clean the area where they were stored and sanitize it. Wash your hands with soap and water after cleaning and after handling these products. If you have been ill with the symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning, see your doctor.
