Denmark finds salmonella in German poultry

Denmark has informed German authorities about 10 reported cases of salmonella found in German poultry sold in Danish supermarkets, a veterinary official said today.

The Scandinavian country is now considering enacting restrictions to stop meat infected with the bacteria from being imported from other European Union countries, said Henrik Jensen, deputy head of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.

Newspaper Politiken over the weekend said it tested 10 packages of Turkey from a German slaughterhouse, and found all carried the bacteria.

Jensen said Danish authorities had informed their German counterparts of the contaminated products, reportedly originating from the Franziska Stolle butchery.

The report triggered calls for new legislation to stop imports of EU products infected with salmonella.

Currently many such products are allowed under EU regulations because people are expected to cook raw meat before they eat it, and cooking kills salmonella, Jensen said.

Danish authorities say 35,000 Danes became ill with salmonella last year and 20 of them died.