Salmonella Typhimurium caused an unprecedentedly large foodborne outbreak in Finland in 2021

Aims

Salmonella infections are significant causes of foodborne outbreaks in the European Union. This study investigates a sudden increase in gastroenteritis patients in the hospital district of Central Finland in June 2021. The primary aim was to study the outbreak's magnitude and source of the outbreak.

Methods and Results

Epidemiological, microbiological, environmental and traceback investigations were conducted. Over 700 persons fell ill during the outbreak caused by Salmonella Typhimurium associated with a daycare lunch. Similar S. Typhimurium was found in the patients and a vegetable mix containing iceberg lettuce, cucumber and peas served during lunch. The traceback investigation revealed that the batch information of vegetables from the wholesaler was not complete. The wholesaler had received quality complaints about the iceberg lettuce from the central kitchen. The manufacturer did not test the suspected batch for Salmonella since the production plant had given a certificate declaring it Salmonella negative.

Conclusions

The most suspect ingredient was one batch of iceberg lettuce due to quality complaints. The lettuce had not been served in two daycare centres without cases. We recommend that in order to enable thorough microbiological investigation, institutional kitchens store the food samples separately as part of the internal quality control and that food items should always be tested when Salmonella contamination in an outbreak is suspected.