France has reported a salmonella outbreak linked to the consumption of pumpkin seeds. From May to August, dozens of residents across various regions contracted the dangerous intestinal infection, according to infohub.kz.
As reported by Reuters, citing the French Ministry of Health, 81 people were infected with salmonella over three months, with six hospitalized due to severe symptoms. Their condition has since stabilized, and they have been discharged from hospitals.
An epidemiological investigation traced the source of infection to pumpkin seeds processed by a food company in southwestern France. The products were supplied to several retail chains, including Grand Frais. Once the source was identified, the entire batch was withdrawn from sale.
Salmonella is a group of rod-shaped bacteria that cause salmonellosis, a common foodborne illness. Typical symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that eggs from Laerco BV were pulled from shelves in Belgium and Luxembourg due to a mass salmonella outbreak affecting hundreds of consumers. The outbreak at a Belgian poultry farm led to at least 306 infections.
Recall that last year, the European Union saw a salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts from Italy. Over two years, the infection affected 509 people in nine European countries.