Cases of collective food poisoning after consuming bread served as part of school meals have additionally occurred in Sejong and Buan-gun, Jeonbuk, following those in Chungbuk.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on the 13th that a total of four cases of facility outbreaks of salmonellosis due to bread consumption have been confirmed. The number of patients showing symptoms has increased to a total of 208, including 120 in Cheongju, 35 in Jincheon, 18 in Sejong, and 35 in Buan.
Earlier, on the 15th of last month, patients showed symptoms of food poisoning after consuming bread provided at two school dining facilities in Cheongju and Jincheon. According to the health authorities' investigation, salmonella of the same genotype was detected in both food and patients.
In response, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety suspended sales and initiated a recall of the problematic products, 'high-calcium strawberry cream roll cake' and 'high-calcium local wheat choco-banana bread,' on the 5th. These products were manufactured by Mother Goose, a food manufacturing and processing company, and distributed and sold by Pulmuone, with consumption deadlines set for October 12 and September 21 of this year, respectively.
Subsequently, two additional cases of food poisoning, presumed to be linked to these products, were reported in Sejong and Buan. In these two dining facilities, 'high-calcium strawberry cream roll cake' was served on the 16th and 15th of last month, respectively.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is monitoring other facilities where the products were supplied for any additional symptomatic cases.
Previously, a Pulmuone representative stated that approximately 27,000 of these two products had been supplied to national school meal establishments, and upon recognizing the onset of symptoms associated with food poisoning, they immediately ceased deliveries and voluntarily recalled and disposed of all affected products.
Health authorities stressed that individuals experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting after consuming the food should immediately seek medical attention and report to the health center if there are two or more symptomatic individuals at the same facility.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the recent rise in temperatures has led to an increase in cases of salmonellosis. Salmonellosis occurs through the consumption of food contaminated with bacteria, mainly spread through undercooked eggs and poultry. Therefore, food should be cooked thoroughly at temperatures above 75 degrees Celsius for over one minute. To prevent cross-contamination, hands should be washed thoroughly with detergent and running water after handling eggs.