Health Ministry orders recall of selected prepacked salad leaves

PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry has recalled selected batches of prepackaged salad leaves imported from Australia as they are believed to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Its Director General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) had reported that brands such as Wash N Toss, Woolworths, Coles, Supa Salad and Clear Film which was produced by Tripod Farmers was infected with the bacteria.

"The Health Ministry is well aware of the FSANZ report and we had recalled the prepacked salads which has Feb 14 as the expiry date," he said in a statement.

The International Food Safety Authorities network (INFOSAN) under the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the products were only
exported to Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand.

The Australian Agriculture Department also confirms that the country does not export the product to Malaysia.

Salmonella is a bacteria that consist of two species (Salmonella bongori and Salmonella enterica)

The bacteria could cause people to have diarrhea, fever, stomach ache, as well as, nausea, vomiting, headache and sore muscle.

Currently, Australia is combating a Salmonella outbreak in the country. The government had recently initiated a nationwide lettuce recall.
The toxic salad food poisoning toll may have swelled to up to 92 victims in Australia.