International Outbreak Involving German Chocolate 2001
In mid-October, the German health authorities noted an unusual increase of Salmonella Oranienburg reports. In November, a reference laboratory notified the German health officials about a chocolate sample that had been tested in September and that was found to be contaminated with Salmonella Oranienburg. A German chocolate manufacturer had submitted the sample for testing. Salmonella cases were ultimately detected in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, and Austria; the outbreak continued through March, 2002. A case control study indicated that chocolate consumption was a risk factor for illness. Chocolate had been implicated in previous outbreaks of Salmonella. No source of point of contamination was ever identified for this outbreak.
- Outbreak began:
- June 2001
- Affected Country:
- International
- Affected States/Territories:
- Not Applicable
- Organism(s):
-
- Salmonella
- Vehicle(s):
- Chocolate
- Molecular Results Available:
- Yes
- Test Results:
- Unknown
- Location(s):
- Retail stores
- Brand Name(s):
- Product Subject to Recall:
- Unknown
-
- Recall Links:
- None
- Total ill:
- 462
- Number ill by Case Definition Known:
- Unknown
- Number Laboratory Confirmed Cases:
- N/A
- Number Probable Cases:
- N/A
- Number Possible Cases:
- N/A
- Anyone Hospitalized:
- Unknown
- Number Hospitalized:
- Unknown
- Any Deaths:
- Unknown
- Number Dead:
- Unknown
- Any References:
- Yes