About 100 ill in nut-related outbreak in UK, few sent to US

Nearly 100 people in UK became the victim of nut-related outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium. Nuts are used in several edible products.
Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued four notifications for affected products including recalls of Lidl GB’s Deluxe Dark Chocolate Muesli Bar having Brazils and cranberries, Eat Natural bars with Brazil nuts, sultanas, peanuts and almonds and Hema Natural fruit and nut bars, Rude Health Food’s The Ultimate Muesli having brazil nuts and The Paleo Foods Co. Cocoa and Hazelnut Grain-Free Granola containing Brazil nuts.
Nick Phin, Deputy Director of National Infection Service at Public Health England informed that efforts are being done to know about the cause of infection.
He declared- “We have been working closely with the Food Standards Agency as well as health protection and food safety colleagues in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, to identify the cause of a Salmonella outbreak and implement control measures.”
He further said- “Epidemiological and microbiological investigations point to contaminated nuts used in several products – investigations to determine the source of the contamination and whether any other products may have been affected continue.”
Phin also apprised that FSA has ordered a recall for the contaminated products.
“Consumers having these products in their home should not eat them and either dispose of them or return them to the retailer for a full refund. Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. Anyone who is concerned about symptoms should contact their GP or out of hours service in the first instance.”
Praveen Vijh, co-founder of Eat Natural stated- “Our bars are heat treated and this diminishes the likelihood of contamination, but we are taking this matter extremely seriously and taking all possible steps, even though at this stage the notification is very much a precautionary measure.”
Eat Natural didn’t inform about the supplier of Brazil nuts but stated that it would definitely be working with them again.
A spokesman told- “We have worked with them for many years without any issue and enjoy a very good business relationship with them. We are working with them on this current issue to ensure corrective actions are in place. Eat Natural is in discussion with the supplier and will not be purchasing any Brazil nuts until corrective action is implemented and verified.”
FSA and an Environmental Health Officer made the company conscious of a potential incident and then it began an intrinsic inquiry. After an inspection, the Brazil nuts being used as a readymade ingredient, gave positive tests for Salmonella.
In mid-august, the United Kingdom released an alert regarding Salmonella contaminated Brazil nuts from Bolivia via a notification on the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). More than 30 countries including the US were involved in this alert.
Symptom appearance after a Salmonella infection generally takes about 12 to 36 hours, but this can vary from 6 to 72 hours. Diarrhea is the most common symptom, which can sometimes be bloody. Fever, headache and abdominal cramps are some other possible symptoms. Sickness usually lasts for 4 days to a week. The old-aged people, infants, and the immune-compromised individuals are more prone to face a severe illness.