More than 100 people, including dozens of children, have fallen ill in a salmonella outbreak linked to chicken-flavoured instant noodles and possibly processed chicken products, according to European health authorities.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said 106 confirmed cases of Salmonella Stanley had been reported across 14 countries, including the UK, as of June 27.
Nearly 50 people have been hospitalized, with children under the age of 10 accounting for almost two-thirds of the reported cases.
Investigators identified chicken-flavoured and hot chicken-flavoured instant noodle products from the same brand as the most likely source of the outbreak after detecting the outbreak strain in products tested in Germany and Lithuania.
However, officials said processed chicken products, including chicken nuggets, are also being investigated, as some infected patients did not report consuming instant noodles.
Several countries have recalled potentially contaminated products while investigations continue to determine the exact source of the contamination.
Health authorities have also warned consumers not to eat instant noodles without properly preparing them, noting that some patients reported consuming the products raw.
The outbreak has affected Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the UK. Investigations remain ongoing. (Newswire)