The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) along with Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) sent out a notice reminding consumers to take care when handling and cooking poultry products at home, including chilled and frozen chicken and turkey drumsticks, breasts, thighs and chicken pieces. The reminder was spurred by a rise in food poisoning cases caused by Salmonella Enteritidis linked to poultry products imported from Poland.

An investigation is ongoing into multiple strains of Salmonella linked to poultry products imported to the UK from Poland. There have been over 200 human cases of salmonellosis caused by specific genetic strains of Salmonella Enteritidis that have been linked to poultry products such as meat and eggs, this year.

The FSA is in discussion with officials in Poland and the EU to ensure all necessary steps are taken to improve the safety of poultry and eggs imported from Poland. The forthcoming import controls on food and feed coming into the UK from the EU will also allow authorities to ensure the controls are in place and help to uphold the UK's high food and feed standards and to protect public health.

A number of the cases involved the consumption of eggs produced in Poland and used in meals in restaurants and cafes. 

"Salmonella is a type of stomach bug that causes stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea," said Tina Potter, head of incidents, FSA. "Symptoms typically resolve themselves within a few days, however, they can be more severe with fever and dehydration, especially in young children, those who are pregnant and those with weakened immune systems."

"Salmonella can be spread from person to person as well as from food, so anyone affected should follow good hygiene practices, such as washing hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and avoiding handling food for others where possible, if you have symptoms," added Lesley Larkin, deputy director for gastrointestinal infections, UKHSA.