In Italy, more than 200 children became ill last month after eating school meals.
A total of 224 cases of salmonellosis were reported following an outbreak in some Qualità&Servizi school canteens.
Farro with pomodorini (cherry) tomatoes and pesto provided on September 24 was behind the Salmonella poisoning among students at certain schools in the province of Florence.
Almost all cases come from Sesto Fiorentino and Campi Bisenzio, with 100 and 92 patients respectively. There were 26 people hospitalized.
A total of 61 cases were recorded in daycare centers, 51 in kindergartens, 106 in primary schools and four in secondary schools. 21 operators of Qualità&Servizi also tested positive, although almost all cases were asymptomatic.
Simone Bezzini, a health consultant in Tuscany, revealed the information in response to a question from Marco Landi, a regional councilor and opposition spokesperson.
Response from authorities and company
At the end of September, the local health unit of Tuscany (USL) reported that investigations and inspections had been launched to determine the origin of the cases.
The checks included a hygienic and sanitary assessment of the facility where the suspect meals were prepared and taking food samples. During the investigations, no abnormalities were found that would necessitate a suspension of the school canteen service.
Nineteen tests were carried out on food and six on water, with one positive for Salmonella in a sample of farro with pesto and pomodorini. It belonged to the same Salmonella group as isolates from affected children.
Qualità&Servizi said its factory on Via del Colle in Calenzano was the subject of controls by officials from the ASL Toscana Centro. As a precaution, the company temporarily suspended the service on September 27 and restarted it on October 1.
“We have been working in silence and are working with the relevant authorities to analyze, investigate, understand, compare and find an explanation, with the intention of questioning ourselves, while knowing that we do our work with seriousness every day executed and carried out. , professionalism and care,” according to a company statement.
“It will therefore be our responsibility, and that of those carrying out the checks, to seek answers and explanations that we want to address with transparency and responsibility, because we owe it all to you and ourselves.
“Today we are working because there are no objective reasons to continue to refuse service. As always, we will do this with the utmost seriousness and with the greatest possible precautions. But in all this there will be no room for joy until all the children are healthy; there won’t be until we repair the breach in the families’ trust that we have worked so hard to build together.”
Other incidents
Salmonella infections have also been reported at schools in Bastia Umbra.
Officials reported that canteen service was gradually restored following recent disinfection work. A total of 33 children are ill, with the latest date on which the illness occurred on October 6.
In May this year, health officials in Modena received reports from four schools in the province of illnesses after consuming pomodorini tomatoes.
Tomatoes were given to children as part of a school fruit and vegetable project, and the incident was not related to the food provided in the canteen.
A total of 132 students and seven teachers developed mainly mild gastrointestinal complaints. Two were taken to the emergency room and discharged after a few hours.
Laboratory tests showed no bacterial contamination of tomatoes and levels of other possible chemical contaminants were also normal.
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