Through a notification dated 1 July 2021, the FSSAI has issued an alert on the detection of Salmonella in dried oregano from Chile after it received an alert from the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) in this regard. The alert was circulated by INFOSAN after food testing was carried out by food testing laboratory Eurofins in Sweden in May and June 2021.
The implicated product as mentioned above has also been imported into India by Keya Foods International Pvt Ltd and has been distributed in India. With a possibility of this product reaching consumers through online sales or by other means and considering the health risk which may be posed by consumption of the Salmonella sp, contaminated oregano product, FSSAI has advised all state food authorities to take necessary actions.
In this regard, the FSSAI has asked Food Safety Commissioners of all States/UTs to take necessary action including food recall of the product from the market. The FSSAI Authorised Officers at Delhi, Cochin, Tuticorin, Chennai and Kolkata have also been asked to share the details of the imports of these products with the Regulatory Compliance Division of the FSSAI. The FSSAI has also requested the Additional Director General, Risk Management Division, Central Board of Excise and Customs to share the details with Regulatory Compliance Division at FSSAI HQ and ensure that in future no consignments of these products are released through RMS and that such consignments may not be released without examination.
Further all consumers are advised not to consume the product and return the same to the store/shop from where they have purchased it.
About Salmonella Contamination
Consumers must understand that Salmonella contamination can be found in both ground and whole spices. Contamination can occur anywhere during the production chain in the fields, from harvest containers, in storage areas and even from workers.
Anyone can get s\salmonella infection from contaminated foods. Illness caused by Salmonella can sometimes be serious and even dangerous for older adults and young children, people with weak immune systems because of medical conditions like diabetes, liver or kidney disease, and cancer. Symptoms of Salmonella infection occur within hours to about 6 days after consuming contaminated foods.
Source : FSSAI
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