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A large outbreak of food poisoning of unknown aetiology associated with Stilton cheese

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

H. C. F. Maguire ,
M. Boyle ,
M. J. Lewis ,
J. Pankhurst ,
A. A. Wieneke ,
M. Jacob ,
J. Bruce  and
M. O'Mahony
H. C. F. Maguire
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ
M. Boyle
Affiliation:
Eastern Health and Social Services Board, 12/22 Linenhall Street, Belfast BT2 8BS
M. J. Lewis
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and PHLS Laboratory, University Hospital, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH
J. Pankhurst
Affiliation:
Rushcliffe Borough Council, Housing and Health Department, Rushcliffe Civic Centre, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
A. A. Wieneke
Affiliation:
PHLS Food Hygiene Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HT
M. Jacob
Affiliation:
Department of Health, Eileen House-Room 103, 80–94 Newington Causeway, Elephant & Castle, London, SE1 6EF
J. Bruce
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ
M. O'Mahony
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ
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Summary

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Between November 1988 and January 1989, a total of 155 people in 36 reported outbreaks suffered gastrointestinal symptoms associated with eating Stilton cheese, produced from unpasteurized cow's milk in the English midlands. Symptoms were suggestive of a staphylococcal illness but extensive laboratory testing of cheeses implicated in several of the outbreaks failed to detect any pathogen, toxin or chemical. Control measures were implemented, and included a voluntary withdrawal of the implicated Stilton cheese from sale on 23 January 1989 and a subsequent decision to use pasteurized milk in production of the cheese.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 106 , Issue 3 , June 1991 , pp. 497 - 505
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

References

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