Large supermarket chains in Germany, such as Aldi or Rewe, had to withdraw dairy products in which the bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila / caviae may be present (read here which dangers threaten with their consumption). According to the competent dairy, the cause of the contamination was a defective seal.
The broken machine part had been discovered in routine, internal cleaning controls in a factory in North Rhine-Westphalia Everswinkel, said the company Deutsches Milchkontor (DMK), which is one of the largest dairy companies in Germany.
As a precautionary measure, samples of the affected production line were sent to an external laboratory and examined there. The results of the investigation arrived on 10 October - almost at the same time as the first customer complaint.
In one of the samples a contamination with a pathogenic water germ was detected. The cause was thus "unequivocally identified" and now fixed.
Machine part has been replaced
The production had been stopped immediately after becoming known, told DMK. "The defective part of the machine was replaced, after which additional cleanings were carried out and a test production was made before the production line was restarted."
The Federal Nutrition Ministry announced on Friday to observe the situation "very accurately". First and foremost, however, the manufacturers themselves are responsible for the safety of their products - and for the official food control, the countries.
Aeromonas are rod-shaped bacteria that typically live in fresh and brackish water. Infections can be caused by contaminated water or food that has come in contact with contaminated water.
For example, if a person becomes infected with contaminated water or contaminated food, the bacteria can cause gastrointestinal disease in both children and adults.
- An overview of all contaminated dairy products can be found here.
- You can read here which infections the bacteria exactly trigger.