Chile: Salmonella outbreak linked to goat cheese sickens dozens
The regional ministerial secretary of Health of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Benjamín Gonzalo Soto Brandt reported on a salmonella outbreak linked to the consumption of clandestinely produced goat cheese.
As of January 5, 66 people were affected in the Valparaíso Region (28) and 38 in the Metropolitan Region. Seven people had to be hospitalized, of which two remain hospitalized in critical care, one elderly person and one younger.
“The Epidemiology team of the Regional Ministerial Secretariat (SEREMI) of Health of the Metropolitan Region and also the provincial office of Chacabuco identified the producer of of the cheese.
"This cheese was sold clandestinely in different parts of the province," was noted.
The health authority explained that the product was sold in “commercial premises, in Family Gardens, in Tiltil and also in the Fifth Region, in the commune of Llay Llay.”
It should be noted that the producer and distributor sold his product in different commercial premises, despite not having a health resolution and without documentation such as a shipping guide or invoice and with cash payment. Seremi added that after the investigation carried out by the health teams, it was possible to locate "the person is already under a health summary and the cheese that was being made has been eliminated and also the one that had already been distributed in stores."
Among the recommendations to citizens, Soto expressed that "it is essential that people who consume goat cheese always verify that it has a health resolution and that it has been purchased in an established place" and that merchants must request authorization when purchasing goat cheese. He indicated that “during the spring-summer season, and due to high temperatures, the risk of food poisoning increases since greater bacterial proliferation is generated.”
During 2023, 163 outbreaks of foodborne diseases were reported in the Metropolitan Region, affecting approximately 881 people. Of them, more than 60 had to be hospitalized .