Lettuce to blame for Aussie salmonella outbreak

A major salmonella outbreak in Australia has been linked to pre-packaged salad mix sourced from a Melbourne farm.

At least 28 people, including one child, in the state of Victoria and six people in South Australia have been diagnosed with salmonella poisoning after eating the salad mix, but health authorities on Friday said they were expecting that number to rise.

The outbreak has forced Tripod Farmers, based about 50 km west of Melbourne in Bacchus Marsh, to recall 24 products from supermarkets while they investigate the source of the bacteria.

Dr Finn Romanes, senior medical advisor of the Department of Health and Human Services, said he expected more people to develop the infection in coming days.

"Salmonella infections are pretty nasty and can give you quite a nasty gastroenteritis that involves diarrhoea, vomiting and fever," Romanes told the Herald Sun in comments published on Friday.

"We expect the number to go up and are certainly keen for people to be aware of the products that are effected and not consume them."

The cause of the bacteria developing within the distribution centre is as yet unknown, though Lydia Buchanan from the Australian Food and Safety Information Council said there are three possible reasons behind it.

"For the salad to have the bacteria, the water used during growth might've been contaminated," Buchanan told News Corp publications on Friday.

"Another reason is the water in the washing process could be contaminated. There is also the possibility that someone who has handled the food could have had salmonella."

Managing Director of Tripod Farmers, Frank Ruffo, said the company was working closely with health authorities to uncover the source of the bacteria. Endit